Personal Information Commission to Investigate All Potential Legal Violations by Coupang, Including Unauthorized Use of CCTV Footage

The Personal Information Protection Commission has launched an investigation into Coupang over allegations that the company analyzed and used closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage without consent while refuting suspicions of a worker's death from overwork.

Song Kyunghee, Chairperson of the Personal Information Protection Commission, is speaking at the Ministry of Science and ICT and Personal Information Protection Commission briefing held on the 12th at the Government Sejong Convention Center in Sejong City. Photo by Yonhap News

On January 7, the commission released a statement saying, "In addition to Coupang’s personal information leak incident, we are investigating all potential violations of the Personal Information Protection Act, including whether CCTV footage was used or provided for purposes other than originally intended, and the use of forced redirection advertisements (kidnap ads)."

Kidnap ads refer to advertisements that forcibly redirect internet or mobile application users to unwanted web pages or ad windows.

Coupang is suspected of analyzing and using CCTV footage collected by its subsidiary without obtaining separate consent from the data subject, in order to refute suspicions regarding the death from overwork of logistics center worker Jang Deokjun in 2020.

The current Personal Information Protection Act, in principle, prohibits the use or provision of personal information for purposes other than originally intended. Exceptions are allowed only when separate consent is obtained from the data subject, there are special provisions in other laws, or under certain circumstances such as investigation, trial, or public safety.

The commission has also formed a dedicated task force, led by the Director of the Investigation and Coordination Bureau, to conduct an intensive investigation into Coupang’s large-scale personal information leak incident.