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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Nearly 500,000 Coupang users have joined class-action lawsuits over a recent personal data breach, seeking compensation totaling more than KRW 640 billion, according to a report by JoongAng Ilbo.
Among 11 law firms handling the lawsuits, nine confirmed that a combined 483,800 plaintiffs have already joined. Each claimant is seeking compensation ranging from KRW 100,000 to 1 million, with the average claim amounting to KRW 132,699 per person. This brings the total claimed damages to approximately KRW 642 billion.
Attorney Kim Byung-guk of Beonhwa Law Firm said many plaintiffs are motivated less by financial compensation than by frustration with Coupang’s response following the data breach.
Legal experts warn that if courts rule in favor of plaintiffs even once, compensation liabilities could rise sharply, as additional victims may file follow-up lawsuits. If Coupang were required to compensate all affected users at the current average claim level, total damages could reach KRW 4.47 trillion—around 3.5 times the company’s operating profit last year.
Attorney Jung Tae-won of LKB & Partners noted that in past personal data breach cases, initial rulings often influenced subsequent lawsuits. He added that litigation could continue until the statute of limitations expires.
Legal experts also point out that previous large-scale data breaches typically resulted in compensation of around KRW 100,000 per person. With President Lee having mentioned the possibility of punitive damages, compensation could rise further. Under Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act, courts may award up to five times the actual damages in cases involving intentional or gross negligence.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
