Coupang Hearing Without CEO: Bipartisan Criticism from Both Parties

Choi Minhee: "Absent Witnesses Will Be Prosecuted... Parliamentary Investigation to Begin"

The National Assembly held a hearing regarding the large-scale personal information leak, but key witnesses such as Bom Kim, Chairman and CEO of Coupang Inc., and former Coupang CEO Park Daejun, did not attend. The Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly unanimously criticized Coupang's irresponsible attitude, announcing plans to file complaints against the absent witnesses and to launch a parliamentary investigation.

On the 17th, Harold Rogers, the newly appointed CEO of Coupang, appeared as a witness at the Coupang hearing held at the National Assembly Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, entering the hearing room and sitting down, waiting for the hearing to begin. 2025. 12. 17 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On the morning of December 17, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee convened a plenary session and held a hearing on the Coupang security incident. Choi Minhee, Chair of the Committee, stated, "All committee members, regardless of party affiliation, view the absence of key witnesses, including Chairman Kim, at today's hearing as a very serious matter," adding, "Such nonattendance is not only disrespectful to the National Assembly but also disregards the entire Republic of Korea and its people."

Choi Hyungdoo, the committee secretary from the opposition party, said, "Trust in Coupang is eroding, which is an affront to the public and will bring despair to Coupang investors worldwide," and criticized, "Chairman Kim is fully capable of speaking in his native language, yet he is attempting to avoid responsibility by putting forward a foreigner who does not speak Korean. This is a very cowardly attitude."

Previously, the committee had requested the attendance of Chairman Kim, former CEO Park, and former CEO Kang Hanseung as witnesses. However, Chairman Kim submitted a statement of nonattendance, explaining, "I am currently living and working overseas," and, "As the CEO of a global company operating in over 170 countries, I have official business commitments." Former CEOs Park and Kang cited their resignations as the reason for their absence in their statements.

Chair Choi Minhee emphasized, "We will file complaints against the absent witnesses," and, "Immediately after the hearing concludes, we will initiate the parliamentary investigation procedures."

On this day, five Coupang representatives attended as witnesses: Harold Rogers, the newly appointed CEO of Coupang; Brett Mathis, Coupang's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO); Kim Myungkyu, CEO of Coupang Eats; Min Byungki, Executive Vice President of Coupang External Affairs; and Cho Yongwoo, Vice President in charge of National Assembly and Government Relations. CEO Rogers stated, "I sincerely apologize to the people of Korea for the concern and distress caused by this incident," and added, "As the person in overall charge at Coupang, I will do my best to answer the committee's questions with sincerity."

When asked about Chairman Kim's absence at the hearing, Rogers replied, "I am representing the Korean entity and handling this matter," avoiding a direct answer. In response to criticism from Lee Junseok of the Reform Party, who pointed out that former CEO Park, who resigned just before the hearing, should not be promoted or take on other roles at Coupang in the future, Rogers answered, "I do not expect that to happen," and added, "To my knowledge, former CEO Park resigned because he felt deep responsibility for this incident."

Meanwhile, on the morning of the same day, media reports surfaced that Kim Byungki, the floor leader, had attended a luncheon with former CEO Park a month before the parliamentary audit, leading to political tension between the ruling and opposition parties. When Representative Choi said, "This has become a political issue today. The person involved should appear and explain," ruling party secretary Kim Hyun countered, "I hope this will not be used as a tool for political strife between the parties." Chair Choi Minhee concluded, "Former CEO Park should appear as a witness. I hope Executive Vice President Min will promptly contact him and make efforts to ensure his attendance."