Coupang's Rogers Appears Before Police for First Time Over 'Self-Investigation Evidence Destruction' Allegations

"We Are Doing Our Utmost to Cooperate With the Investigation"

Harold Rogers, Acting CEO of Coupang Korea, who was accused of destroying evidence and other charges during the company’s internal investigation and announcement of the large-scale personal information leak, appeared before the police on January 30.

The Coupang Investigation Task Force (TF) at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency began questioning Rogers as a suspect at the agency’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul at 2 p.m. that day. This marks the first summons and the first investigation since the task force was launched a month ago. Rogers had previously failed to comply with police summonses, but agreed to appear after the third request on January 14. The police plan to focus their investigation on charges including obstruction of official duties, destruction of evidence, and obstruction of business.

Harold Rogers, Acting CEO of Coupang Korea, is appearing at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 30th, addressing the press. Photo by O Ji-eun

Upon arriving at the police station at around 1:54 p.m., Rogers, speaking through an interpreter, stated, “Coupang has done its utmost to cooperate with all ongoing government investigations,” adding, “We will fully cooperate with today’s police investigation as well.” However, he left without answering reporters’ questions regarding whether he admitted to destroying evidence, whether claims of receiving instructions from the National Intelligence Service were perjury, or whether he attempted to cover up industrial accidents.

On December 25 of last year, Coupang released the results of its internal investigation, stating that although the information of 3,300 individuals was leaked, only the data of 3,000 people had been stored. The Ministry of Science and ICT requested an investigation, calling Coupang’s claims unilateral, and the police also noted that there had been no prior consultation, sparking controversy over the so-called “self-investigation.”

The police plan to focus on how Coupang conducted its internal investigation while excluding investigative authorities, how the company contacted the former employee who is now a suspect and secured the key evidence-the laptop-and whether there is any possibility that important evidence was damaged or destroyed in the process.