By Micah Jonah | January 25, 2026
South Korea has told the United States that its ongoing investigation into e commerce giant, Coupang is strictly a regulatory matter and should not be treated as a trade dispute between both countries.
South Korea’s top trade envoy, Yeo Han koo, said he conveyed this position to United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
According to Yeo, the probe into Coupang is similar to investigations carried out against local companies involved in customer data breaches and is being handled under South Korean law.
He stressed that the case must be treated separately from bilateral trade relations between Seoul and Washington.
Coupang, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, generates most of its revenue in South Korea, has faced criticism from some United States lawmakers and investors who claim the company is being unfairly targeted by regulators.
In November, 2025, the company disclosed that personal data belonging to more than 33 million customers had been compromised, triggering public outrage, legislative scrutiny and multiple lawsuits in South Korea.
The data breach prompted authorities to launch a wide ranging investigation into the company’s data protection practices and compliance with national privacy regulations.
South Korean officials maintain that the action is part of routine enforcement of domestic laws and does not reflect any political or trade motivated decision against foreign linked companies.
The government said it remains committed to fair business regulation and to maintaining stable trade relations with the United States while protecting consumer rights at home.
