Coupang Data Leak Diplomatic Tension 2026: Civic Group Warns Against Lobbying

Can a corporate data breach trigger a diplomatic row between long-time allies? Coupang Inc. is currently at the center of a brewing storm between Seoul and Washington as questions of regulatory fairness and political lobbying take center stage.

Coupang Data Leak Diplomatic Tension 2026: Conflict of Interests

On Jan. 19, 2026, the Korean American Public Action Committee (KAPAC) issued a stern warning. According to Yonhap, the group stated that the e-commerce giant shouldn't stir conflict between the U.S. and South Korea to shield its own interests. This follows a massive data leak last year that exposed nearly 33 million customer accounts, including names and phone numbers.

The situation's complicated by differing perspectives from lawmakers. While South Korean regulators have placed the firm under intense scrutiny, some U.S. House members argued during a recent hearing that the investigations appear discriminatory and are aggressively targeting the U.S.-listed company.

Seoul's Diplomatic Countermeasures

In an effort to prevent the dispute from escalating, South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington last week. Yeo stressed that the probe is being conducted under fair and transparent principles in line with relevant laws. He emphasized that the matter isn't something that should escalate into a broader trade or diplomatic issue, despite the firm's founder, Kim Bom-suk, being a Korean American.