South Korea Launches "Major Crisis" Task Force to Probe Coupang Data Breach Affecting 33.7M Users
The South Korean government has formed a multi-agency task force, including the national spy agency, to investigate a massive data breach at Coupang affecting 33.7 million users, calling it a 'major social crisis.'
The South Korean government on Tuesday launched a high-level, multi-agency task force to investigate a massive at U.S.-based e-commerce giant that compromised the personal information of . Officials have labeled the incident a "major social crisis that has damaged public trust."
Government Vows "Stern Measures"
According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the new comprises a powerful coalition of officials from the science and labor ministries, the national media watchdog, financial authorities, the police, and even the national spy agency. The group held its first meeting on Tuesday to begin investigating the facts behind the breach, discuss user protection, and revamp the nation's data protection policies.
"Through the government-wide TF, we will investigate the cause of the incident and identify accountability," Second Vice Science Minister Ryu Je-myung said in a statement. He added that the government will "take stern measures" if the investigation uncovers any legal violations by .
Scope of the Breach: Nearly All Members Affected
The investigation follows announcement in November that its customer data had been compromised. The breach reportedly affected nearly all of its members, exposing sensitive information such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, and delivery details. The scale of the leak prompted a police raid on Seoul headquarters on December 9.
This government-wide response signals a potential shift in South Korea's regulatory stance towards major tech platforms, regardless of their origin. Targeting U.S.-listed Coupang so aggressively suggests a move to tighten data sovereignty rules and hold even the largest e-commerce players to a higher standard of social responsibility.
This content is AI-generated based on source articles. While we strive for accuracy, errors may occur. We recommend verifying with the original source.
Related Articles
South Korean startup Innospace's first commercial rocket, the Hanbit-Nano, crashed 30 seconds after launching from Brazil. This analysis covers the mission failure, the technology involved, and the implications for the private space race.
South Korean startup Innospace's first commercial rocket launch, Hanbit-Nano, has been delayed in Brazil due to bad weather. A successful launch would be a historic first for the country's private space sector.
Get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN. Block ads, stop trackers, and protect up to nine devices forever with this 90% off deal.
Spotify has deployed new "anti-copyright" protections after the activist group Anna's Archive announced it successfully ripped 86 million songs for torrent distribution, targeting 99.6% of all listens.