Coupang Founder Kim Bom-suk Apology 2025: 34M Data Breach and Hearing Snub

Two-thirds of South Korea’s population had their data compromised, and it took a full month for the person at the top to speak. According to Yonhap, Coupang Inc. founder Kim Bom-suk issued a formal apology on Sunday for a massive data breach, marking his first public acknowledgment since the incident began.

Coupang Founder Kim Bom-suk Apology for 34M Data Breach

In a written statement released on December 28, 2025, Kim admitted that his initial response was inadequate. "I have caused huge frustration and disappointment by failing to communicate clearly," Kim stated. He confessed that waiting until all facts were confirmed before apologizing was a "wrong judgment."

The breach affected approximately 34 million customers in South Korea. While Coupang claimed to have identified a former employee as the hacker and recovered the equipment, the South Korean government remains skeptical. Officials labeled Coupang’s investigation as a "unilateral claim," as the joint public-private probe has yet to finalize its findings.

Parliamentary Hearing Refusal and Mounting Pressure

The apology hasn't calmed political tensions. Kim Bom-suk once again declined to attend a parliamentary hearing scheduled for this week, citing a "prearranged schedule." His brother, Yoo Kim, and former Korea CEO Kang Han-seung also submitted similar non-appearance statements.

Rep. Choi Min-hee, chair of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, criticized the move as shunning accountability. Lawmakers have previously threatened to file formal complaints against Kim for his repeated refusal to appear before the assembly.