Police Raid Coupang Headquarters Over 'Kim Byungki Obstruction of Business' Allegations

Compulsory Investigation Launched Three Weeks After Summoning Park Daejoon of Coupang
Kim Byungki Suspected of Influencing and Intervening in Coupang's Personnel Decisions

The police, who are investigating independent lawmaker Kim Byungki on charges of obstruction of business involving Coupang, have launched a compulsory investigation.

The Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that from 9:40 a.m. on January 29, it has been conducting a search and seizure at two locations, including Coupang's headquarters office.

Exterior view of Coupang headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Assemblyman Kim is suspected of having met with Coupang's management in the past and demanding personnel disadvantages for employees who previously served as his aides and are currently working at the company. It has been reported that in September of last year, just before the National Assembly audit, Kim had lunch at a hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, with former Coupang CEO Park Daejoon and Executive Vice President for External Affairs Ahn Byungki, among others. The police believe that Kim attempted to exert influence during this meeting.

In fact, after the lunch between Assemblyman Kim and Coupang executives, it has been reported that employees who previously worked in Kim's office were given overseas assignments or dismissed, thus experiencing personnel disadvantages. Subsequently, former aides exposed allegations of Kim's misconduct to the media.

On January 8, the police summoned former CEO Park Daejoon as a reference in the obstruction of business investigation. It is expected that the authorities will determine whether Assemblyman Kim intervened in Coupang's personnel matters by combining Park's testimony with evidence obtained from the search and seizure.