[2021 National Audit] CEO Park Dae-jun: "Coupang Transfers Personal Data to Chinese Outsourcing Agency"

Assemblywoman Yang Jeong-suk Points Out at National Audit
CEO Park Dae-jun: "Never Received Viewing Request from Chinese Government"

Park Dae-jun, head of Coupang's New Business Division, stated on the 5th at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee (STIBC) audit of the Korea Communications Commission, "We will take fundamental measures to transfer personal information consignment agencies to domestic or secure locations so that they cannot be accessed from China." The photo was taken at the STIBC audit on the 1st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Park Dae-jun, head of Coupang's New Business Division, stated on the 5th at the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee (STIBC) hearing of the Korea Communications Commission, "We will take fundamental measures to transfer personal information consignment agencies to domestic or secure locations to prevent access from China."

Park Dae-jun, who appeared as a witness before the STIBC that day, responded this way to the criticism from Assemblywoman Yang Jeong-sook.

Earlier, Assemblywoman Yang claimed that personal information stored by Coupang was at risk of being entirely transferred to China. She pointed out that personal and location information stored in the Coupang app could be transferred to China through the Chinese company 'Hallim Network Co., Ltd.' Coupang immediately issued a statement rebutting this, saying, "Coupang's customer information is stored in Korea, and no personal information is transferred to or stored in China."

Assemblywoman Yang noted, "Providing personal information does not only mean physical access. If access is possible, photos can be taken or data can be moved," adding, "The Chinese government could also request access."

Park Dae-jun emphasized, "We have never received an access request from the Chinese government before," but added, "Regardless of the interpretation of Chinese laws, we will fundamentally block access itself and transfer personal information to domestic or secure locations so that it cannot be accessed from China."