Korea-US Trade and the Coupang Data Breach Investigation: Minister Yeo’s Davos Diplomacy
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo urged USTR to separate the Coupang data breach investigation from broader Korea-US trade issues during his meeting at Davos.
It's a delicate balancing act on the global stage. On Jan 24, 2026, South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo made it clear that Seoul’s investigation into Coupang Inc. over a massive data breach shouldn't be entangled with broader trade issues between South Korea and the U.S. According to Yonhap, Yeo relayed this message to U.S. officials during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Separating the Coupang Data Breach Investigation from Trade
Minister Yeo met with U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer on Jan 22 to swap views on pending bilateral issues. He emphasized that the probe into Coupang isn't a case of discriminatory treatment against a U.S.-listed firm. Instead, it’s a standard regulatory response to a significant security failure.
The stakes are high because Coupang, while founded by Korean American Bom Kim and listed in New York, generates about 90% of its revenue in South Korea. "I explained that it's not because Coupang is a U.S. company," Yeo told reporters, adding that any domestic firm would've faced the same transparent scrutiny under similar circumstances.
Navigating Digital Regulatory Friction
The meeting follows Yeo's recent visit to Washington, where he addressed concerns from U.S. lawmakers about South Korea's evolving digital regulatory landscape. U.S. officials have been wary that new regulations might disproportionately target American tech giants. Seoul's strategy is to frame these actions as non-discriminatory consumer protection rather than protectionist barriers.
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