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South Korea Addresses U.S. Lawmakers' Concerns on Tech Regulations After Data Breach
South Korea's government stated it would ensure no discrimination against U.S. tech companies, including Coupang, following a letter from U.S. lawmakers demanding an end to unfair targeting. The assurance aligns with a U.S.-South Korea trade deal fact sheet signed in November. The response addresses concerns over actions against firms like Apple, Google, Meta and Coupang after a 2025 data breach.
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U.S. tech companies, including e-commerce firm Coupang. U.S. lawmakers calling for an end to unfair targeting of American businesses. U.S. digital companies did not face discriminatory measures or unnecessary barriers.
-South Korea joint fact sheet signed in November under a trade deal between the two countries. U.S. lawmakers to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, demanding an immediate end to discriminatory regulatory actions against American businesses operating in South Korea.
The letter was led by Republican Study Committee member Michael Baumgartner. The lawmakers stated that systematic targeting of American companies such as Apple, Google, Meta, and Coupang is particularly concerning. South Korea leveraged a low-sensitivity data leak in November 2025 as a pretext to launch a whole-of-government assault on Coupang, according to the lawmakers.
The assault on Coupang included threats to revoke its business licenses and pressuring pension funds to divest its shares in the holding company. The lawmakers stated that they are committed to ensuring that the South Korean government ceases its persecution of Coupang and other American companies operating in South Korea.
The ongoing probe into Coupang's data breach was proceeding under domestic law and procedures, regardless of the nationality of the company, the Korean Foreign Ministry said.
Faced public and lawmaker backlash in South Korea over a data breach that affected more than 30 million customers. On Wednesday, the ministry said the issues regarding Coupang should not be linked to ongoing security negotiations with Washington, which include South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines. The data breach occurred in November 2025.
