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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] The Korea Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (KBTC) has launched a fact-finding investigation into Coupang over allegations that the company intentionally designed its account deletion process to be excessively complicated, potentially violating the Telecommunications Business Act by “unfairly restricting users’ right to cancel services.”
Coupang users seeking to delete their accounts must navigate a series of complex and unintuitive steps. According to the KBTC on December 7, the agency is examining whether these procedures constitute prohibited conduct under the law.
On the mobile app, users must tap the “Personal Information” tab at the bottom of the main screen (the icon showing an upper body silhouette), then proceed through Settings → Edit Member Information → Password Input, after which they are redirected to the desktop site to begin the account deletion process.
On the PC interface, users must navigate through My Coupang → Personal Information Review/Edit → Password Input → scroll to the bottom to click “Delete Account,” then re-enter their password, review their Coupang usage history, and complete a lengthy questionnaire before finalizing their request.
Following the recent large-scale personal data breach involving Coupang, demand for account deletion has surged. The KBTC stated that Coupang’s withdrawal procedures impose “significant inconvenience” on users, prompting the commission to initiate an urgent investigation.
If the probe confirms legal violations, Coupang may face corrective orders and administrative fines under relevant statutes. The commission also noted that it will continue monitoring telecommunications service providers whose practices cause consumer harm, especially in services closely tied to everyday life.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
