South Korean Embassy Responds to US Lawmakers' Letter on Coupang Regulations

The South Korean Embassy in the United States has sent a reply to a letter from US Republican lawmakers regarding regulations on e-commerce company Coupang and other American firms, according to South Korea's foreign ministry. The letter from the lawmakers, released late last month, was sent by 54 Republican members of the US House affiliated with the Republican Study Committee.

It urged South Korean officials to stop what the lawmakers described as unfair treatment of US companies, including Coupang.

In its reply, the embassy stated that investigations and measures related to Coupang are being carried out in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, in accordance with relevant domestic laws and regulations. A foreign ministry official said the government will maintain a non-discriminatory policy toward US digital firms, including Coupang, and will explain its position to the US Congress.

Seoul and Washington have differing views on the treatment of Coupang, a US-listed e-commerce company currently under investigation in Seoul for a breach of personal information involving more than 33 million users.

Background on the Dispute The probe into Coupang centers on the data breach, which has drawn attention from US lawmakers who view the regulations as discriminatory. The foreign ministry reported that the embassy's response aims to address these concerns directly.

Coupang, headquartered in South Korea but listed on US stock exchanges, operates as a major player in the e-commerce sector. The ongoing investigation has highlighted tensions in bilateral relations over digital trade policies.