Seoul, February 6, 2026, 04:12 (KST)
- Coupang revealed that personal data from an additional 165,000 users was compromised in the breach initially reported last year
- Seoul’s national security adviser warned that the fallout is spilling over into trade and security matters with Washington
- A US House panel has subpoenaed Coupang, demanding records related to an investigation of alleged discrimination against American companies
Coupang Inc has confirmed that personal data belonging to an additional 165,000 users in South Korea was leaked, expanding a breach that has already drawn the e-commerce giant into police and regulatory scrutiny. Reuters
This latest development matters because the case no longer seems like just a contained cyber incident. Instead, it’s spilling over into a wider conflict that pulls in lawmakers, regulators, and increasingly, the trade tensions between Seoul and Washington.
Coupang’s shares dropped roughly 10% in US trading as investors grew wary, with the company scrambling to limit damage and manage its legal risks.
Coupang confirmed the newly discovered accounts are part of the same breach from November, not a separate hack. The leaked info includes customer address-book entries—names, phone numbers, and addresses. However, payment details, login data, building access codes, email addresses, and order histories remain secure, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. Joins
The company alerted affected customers via text and adhered to guidelines from the Personal Information Protection Commission, South Korea’s privacy authority, the report stated. These messages cautioned users against clicking unfamiliar links and urged vigilance for any suspicious contacts outside Coupang’s official support channels.
Coupang said it will offer affected users shopping vouchers worth 50,000 won per account, the report states. The company clarified in a statement to the newspaper that “these are additional findings from the same incident … not a new data leak.”
The widening breach has now entered diplomatic talks. Presidential national security adviser Wi Sung-lac revealed that the Coupang issue is impacting major trade and security discussions with the United States. He connected US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff hike on South Korean goods to this case and broader disputes over stricter regulations for large online platforms. “One pillar … is being shaken by the talk of raising tariffs,” Wi said in a Thursday interview. Straitstimes
The House Judiciary Committee in Washington has subpoenaed Coupang, demanding documents linked to its probe into alleged discrimination against US companies. The committee is specifically after communications between Coupang and the South Korean government. Coupang confirmed it will cooperate fully, including handing over documents and providing witness testimony. Reuters
Coupang is under fire at home after authorities revealed last year’s breach exposed personal data of over 33 million customers—about two-thirds of South Korea’s population. On top of that, the company is dealing with a tax audit and a legal complaint filed by South Korea’s parliament against its founder and former executives, Reuters reported.
Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang Korea, is now part of the criminal investigation. He spent roughly 12 hours being questioned by police over claims he destroyed evidence related to the breach and is expected to be called back, the Korea JoongAng Daily reported.
The road from a data breach to actual damage isn’t usually direct. Coupang says it hasn’t seen any “secondary damage” yet—that means no fraud or scams stemming from the leaked contact info. Still, regulators and lawmakers are pushing for harsher penalties, and the company remains under several investigations and lawsuits.
Coupang Korea, responsible for the bulk of its parent company’s revenue, is scrambling to assure both customers and regulators that the breach has been contained. Meanwhile, the political battle is escalating, extending beyond cybersecurity into the broader regulations for major online platforms.
