Pan-Government TF Meeting: Government Vows "No Doubt Will Remain"
All Ministries Mobilized for Joint Response
From Breach Investigation to Labor and Logistics Issues
The government has launched an all-out, pan-government response to the massive personal information leak incident at Coupang, even considering a suspension of business operations. This is an exceptionally strong response, with all ministries acting simultaneously to address everything from identifying the cause of the breach and protecting users to labor and logistics issues.
On December 29, the government held a meeting of the "Coupang Incident Pan-Government Task Force (TF)" chaired by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Baek Kyunghoon, issuing a stern warning that Coupang’s response to the breach and personal information leak was inadequate. The government defined this not as a simple internal corporate incident, but as a serious matter directly related to personal information protection, corporate responsibility in the digital platform era, labor safety, and the overall fairness of market order. The government declared its intention to "leave not a single doubt unresolved."
The pan-government TF, led by Vice Prime Minister Baek, includes the Personal Information Protection Commission, National Police Agency, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Fair Trade Commission, National Tax Service, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, National Intelligence Service, Financial Services Commission, Korea Communications Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
First, regarding the breach and personal information leak, the government will divide responsibilities and launch a swift investigation. The Ministry of Science and ICT will focus on identifying the cause of the incident and inspecting security vulnerabilities. The Personal Information Protection Commission will examine the scale and scope of the leak and whether there were violations of the Personal Information Protection Act. The Financial Services Commission will investigate the possibility of fraudulent payments and high-interest loan practices, while the National Police Agency will conduct suspect apprehension investigations through analysis of seized materials and international cooperation. With over 30 million personal information records leaked, the government plans to accelerate the investigation as much as possible to address rising public anxiety.
User protection measures will also be implemented in earnest. The Fair Trade Commission will comprehensively review whether information was misused, the potential for consumer property damage, and Coupang’s compensation measures, and will determine whether to suspend business operations. The Fair Trade Commission and Korea Communications Commission are also investigating whether the complicated withdrawal process constitutes a prohibited act under the Electronic Commerce Act and the Telecommunications Business Act, in response to complaints about user inconvenience.
Inspections of labor and logistics are being conducted in parallel. The Ministry of Employment and Labor will focus on Coupang’s night work practices and health protection measures, while the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, together with the National Assembly’s Euljiro Committee, will promptly prepare an agreement to protect workers and pursue institutional improvements to enhance working conditions.
Vice Prime Minister Baek Kyunghoon stated, "A company that has grown based on the trust of the people cannot justify any attempt to evade responsibility. The leak of over 30 million domestic customer records is a clear violation of domestic law, and if any illegal acts are confirmed, we will take strict action in accordance with the law and principles, just as we would with any other company." He added, "This issue goes beyond personal information; it is directly connected to public safety, rights and interests, and the overall social responsibility of companies. The entire government will respond as one team until the end, so that the public can feel safe."
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