Yeo Han-koo: "Coupang Data Leak Should Be Addressed Separately from Trade and Diplomatic Issues... Will Clarify Misunderstandings with the U.S."

U.S. Lawmakers Accuse Korea of "Discriminating Against U.S. Companies"
Minister Yeo Stresses "Non-Discriminatory, Domestic Norms-Based Intent"
Simultaneous Response to FTA Joint Committee and Tariff Ruling

Yonhap News Agency

As concerns from the United States over Korea's online platform regulatory legislation coincide with the Coupang personal data leak incident, Yeo Han-koo, Trade Minister for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who is currently visiting the U.S., has stepped in to address the situation, stating, "We need to respond to each issue separately." His intention is to prevent the domestic data protection issue from expanding into a narrative of "discrimination against U.S. tech companies" in the U.S., while also conducting extensive persuasion efforts during his visit.

On the 11th (local time), at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., Yeo met with reporters and addressed the recent controversy surrounding Coupang's data leak, saying, "The essence of the matter lies in the large-scale data breach and the subsequent inadequate response," and emphasized, "It is necessary to approach this without conflating it with trade or diplomatic issues." He added, "The U.S. government has not officially raised any issue regarding this matter," and stressed, "The Korean government is not targeting or discriminating against any specific company."

Coupang Korea's shares are 100% owned by its U.S.-listed parent company, Coupang Inc., with more than 70% of Coupang Inc.'s voting rights held by Chairman Kim Beom-seok. For this reason, some U.S. media, think tanks, and congressional staffers argue that the Korean National Assembly's response signals a preemptive regulation against U.S. tech companies. Yeo's remarks are interpreted as an effort to counter such perceptions.

Regarding the online platform regulatory legislation being promoted in the Korean National Assembly, Yeo acknowledged, "It is true that the U.S. side has concerns," and said, "It is necessary to clearly explain the policy and legislative intent." He continued, "In particular, U.S. Senators, Representatives, and digital industry associations are actively voicing their opinions," and added, "During this visit, I will conduct broad outreach to explain the exact legislative intent of the Korean government and seek understanding."

The U.S. administration and Congress have openly expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that this bill could effectively function as a regulation targeting American companies. It is expected that Yeo will also meet with Republican Congressman Darrell Issa, who has criticized the Korean regulation as an "anti-American digital regulation." In a recent media contribution, Congressman Issa directly accused the Korean government and National Assembly of "discriminating against U.S. companies."

Another government official stated, "Korea's online platform legislation is based on domestic normative objectives of consumer protection and ensuring market fairness, but the U.S. side tends to view it mainly in the context of digital trade and service market barriers," adding, "There is a clash of perspectives in the discussion framework." In fact, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. Congress have recently strengthened their stance of defining digital trade as a "non-tariff barrier area equivalent to manufacturing."

Regarding the postponement of the "Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Joint Committee" meeting, where the two countries agreed to discuss non-tariff barrier issues, Yeo said, "We are closely coordinating the schedule and agenda with the USTR," and added, "We will set the date as soon as preparations are complete." He further commented, "Key issues are being discussed constructively through ongoing communication at both the top and working levels."

Regarding the prospect that the U.S. Supreme Court will soon issue a ruling on the agreement to lower mutual tariffs between Korea and the U.S. to 15%, Yeo said, "There are too many variables in the outcome to make any predictions," and explained, "A key purpose of this visit is to broadly listen to the opinions of the U.S. government, law firms, and trade experts, and to prepare for various scenarios."

During his visit, Yeo plans to meet successively with U.S. congressional officials, including USTR representative Jamieson Greer, and industry lobbying group representatives, before returning to Korea on the 15th. He emphasized, "I will respond with the national interest as the top priority, so that the Korean government's exact position is reflected and can be understood by the U.S. side."