Coupang CEO Rogers: "No Disadvantage in Lawsuits for Using 50,000 Won Compensation Coupon"

Appeared as Witness at National Assembly Joint Hearing on December 31
Clarifies No Disadvantages for Using 50,000 Won Compensation Coupons
"No Conditions Attached to the Purchase Vouchers"
"Compensation Plan Is Not a Mitigating Factor in Future Lawsuits"

Regarding the 50,000 won worth of coupons proposed as compensation by Harold Rogers, CEO of Coupang, for the large-scale personal information leak, Coupang has indicated that participants in the damages lawsuit will not face any disadvantages even if they use the coupons.

On December 31, Rogers appeared as a witness at the National Assembly hearing titled "Hearing on Coupang's Security Breach, Personal Information Leak, Unfair Trade Practices, Labor Conditions, and Measures to Prevent Recurrence." In response to a question from Hwang Jeongah, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, asking whether Coupang would include a so-called "no-sue agreement" clause in its terms and conditions-meaning users who redeem the compensation vouchers would waive any civil or criminal claims in the future-Rogers replied, "No. There are no conditions attached to the purchase vouchers."

Harold Rogers, CEO of Coupang, is speaking at the 'Coupang Joint Hearing' held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

When asked whether Coupang would use this compensation plan as grounds to argue for a reduction in damages should future lawsuits proceed, Rogers responded, "This (compensation plan) is not a mitigating factor," and added, "Coupang has already been fined by several authorities."

Previously, on December 29, Coupang announced a compensation plan worth 50,000 won per person-totaling 1.685 trillion won-for all 33.7 million customers notified of the personal information leak. The plan included coupons for all Coupang products (5,000 won), Coupang Eats (5,000 won), Coupang Travel products (20,000 won), and Alux products (20,000 won). Among consumers, concerns were raised that using these coupons might disadvantage them if they later participated in damages lawsuits.

Lawmaker Hwang pointed out, "The minimum compensation recognized under the Personal Information Protection Act is 100,000 won per person, but in reality, Coupang is settling with 5,000 won coupons," and questioned, "Is Coupang's compensation plan truly fair?"

In response, Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, stated, "We are aware that there is considerable criticism regarding Coupang's compensation plan," and emphasized, "It is very important that the compensation plan allows victims to feel they have been adequately remedied. The burden of proof lies with the business operator."