Choi Minhee: "NIS Requests Coupang CEO Be Charged with Perjury"

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has reportedly requested the National Assembly to file a perjury charge against Harold Rogers, CEO of Coupang. This move appears to be in response to Coupang naming the NIS as the agency that directed its so-called "self-investigation," which allegedly downplayed the personal data leak incident.

Choi Minhee, Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, stated at a hearing held on the 30th to address "the Coupang security breach, personal data leak, unfair trade practices, working conditions, and measures to prevent recurrence," that "the Director of the NIS has requested that CEO Rogers be charged with perjury."

Harold Rogers, CEO of Coupang, is speaking at the Coupang joint hearing held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The issue raised by the NIS appears to concern CEO Rogers’ statements regarding the self-investigation. Rogers identified the NIS as the government agency that instructed the investigation. During the hearing that morning, when Assemblywoman Hwang Jeonga of the Democratic Party asked whether Coupang’s claim of conducting an internal investigation and disclosure at the government’s direction was valid, Rogers replied, "It was not an internal investigation, but one conducted under the direction of the (Korean) government."

When Assemblywoman Hwang asked, "Which ministry gave the instruction?" Rogers answered, "As far as I know, the relevant agency has publicly acknowledged its involvement." When pressed further, "Are you referring to the NIS? With whom at the NIS did you communicate?" Rogers responded, "I will provide the name," and claimed, "Although I did not wish to contact the suspect, the agency (NIS) requested to contact the suspect on several occasions."

Bae Kyunghoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, who leads the government-wide Coupang task force, directly refuted this. Deputy Prime Minister Bae stated, "The only agency authorized to issue instructions to Coupang is the Ministry of Science and ICT, which oversees platforms; the NIS does not have such authority." He explained, "The NIS only assisted in the process of bringing evidence such as laptops into the country, as there could be damage or loss due to various leaks or mistakes." He also emphasized, "The government-wide task force has never instructed Coupang to conduct an internal investigation."

Previously, on the 26th, the NIS stated, "The NIS is not in a position to issue any instructions to Coupang and has never done so," adding, "However, we recognized the large-scale data leak by foreigners as a national security threat and held consultations with Coupang for information collection and analysis." On the 28th, the NIS further clarified, "We performed our duties in accordance with Article 4 of the NIS Act and held consultations with Coupang for information collection and analysis."

Chairperson Choi added, "The Director of the NIS has also provided details of CEO Rogers’ specific perjury," and said, "This will be communicated to the committee secretaries so that it can be addressed at the conclusion of tomorrow’s hearing."