A U.S. House Judiciary Committee interim staff report says South Korea discriminates against U.S.-owned companies, singling out e-commerce firm Coupang amid investigations following a major personal data breach. The 35-page report, titled “Closed for Competition: Korea’s Discriminatory Attacks on American-owned Businesses,” argues that Korean authorities’ handling of the Coupang case amounts to “discriminatory attacks,” and links that alleged treatment to the constraints of a U.S.-Korea trade framework from the prior year. It characterizes Coupang as a “consistent target” and cites concerns including coercive investigation tactics, burdensome regulatory requirements, and penalties.
South Korean officials reject the allegations. Cheong Wa Dae, through National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, says Korea does not discriminate based on nationality and does not single out companies for investigation. The presidential office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also say the report is one-sided and that Korean investigations are conducted lawfully and with transparency. A White House official, meanwhile, says Coupang is being “singled out” by the Lee Jae Myung administration and warns against unfair trade practices.
The dispute centers on how Korean authorities handle the Coupang data breach probe and whether that scrutiny reflects discrimination or enforcement of domestic law.
