Coupang Founder Issues Belated Apology for Data Breach
Kim Bom-suk, founder of South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang, has issued a public apology for a massive customer data breach affecting 33.7 million users, though he continues to avoid parliamentary oversight.
Delayed Response Draws Criticism
The apology, delivered nearly a month after the breach was disclosed, comes amid mounting pressure from South Korean authorities. Kim acknowledged the incident caused "great concern and inconvenience" to customers and admitted to inadequate initial communication.
"As the founder and chair of Coupang's board, I sincerely apologize on behalf of all employees," Kim stated. "Looking back, it was a mistake not to express my apology and deep regret from the very beginning."
Parliamentary Hearing Avoidance Continues
Despite the apology, Kim has refused to attend a scheduled parliamentary hearing for Tuesday and Wednesday, marking the second time he has avoided Assembly scrutiny. He cited prior overseas commitments as the reason for his absence.
Representative Choi Min-hee of the Democratic Party criticized Kim's absence, stating that he and the company "continue to ignore and ridicule Korea, its people and the National Assembly."
Disputed Claims Over Data Recovery
Kim maintains that all leaked customer data has been recovered through government collaboration. However, the Ministry of Science and ICT disputes these claims, describing them as "unilateral assertions" that have not been verified by ongoing investigations.
The company asserts that data on the suspect's computer was limited to approximately 3,000 cases and had not been distributed or sold. Government officials remain skeptical of these representations.
International Dimensions Emerge
The controversy has attracted international attention, with former U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien criticizing Korea's parliamentary scrutiny as regulatory pressure on a U.S.-based company.
Coupang has issued statements in both Korean and English, with notably sharper language in the English version, claiming it had been "falsely accused" of mishandling the incident.
Government Response Intensifies
A cross-ministerial task force involving multiple agencies, including the National Intelligence Service and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been established to coordinate the government response. The presidential office has also been briefed on the matter.
The rare joint parliamentary hearing scheduled for this week will involve six standing committees covering various policy areas, reflecting the serious nature of the data security breach.