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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, South Korea — The Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee of the National Assembly has resolved to file criminal charges against seven former and current Coupang executives, including Bom Kim, Chairman of Coupang Inc., and Harold Rogers, CEO of Coupang. Simultaneously, the South Korean government has referred the company to the police for investigation and pledged to mobilize all available administrative measures to address the ongoing "Coupang Crisis."
Following a joint parliamentary hearing on December 31—conducted by four major committees to investigate data breaches, unfair trade practices, and labor conditions—the committee held a plenary session to finalize the legal action. The individuals facing charges for failing to appear include Chairman Bom Kim, former CEO Kang Han-seung, and Vice President Kim Yu-seok. Additionally, CEO Harold Rogers, former CEO Park Dae-jun, Vice President Cho Yong-woo, and Audit Committee Member Yoon Hye-young are being charged with perjury.
Unprecedented Inter-agency Response An inter-agency Task Force (TF) formed to address the Coupang situation issued a statement late Sunday, declaring, "We will hold the company accountable to the end on behalf of the public" and promising "stern measures against any legal violations."
The government's multifaceted offensive includes:
Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT): Investigating the leak of personal information. The ministry plans to refer Coupang to the police for violating data preservation orders under the Information and Communications Network Act, specifically for allowing five months of website access logs—critical for identifying attackers—to be deleted.
National Tax Service: Verifying allegations of tax evasion involving Coupang and Chairman Bom Kim.
Fair Trade Commission (FTC): Investigating potential abuses of dominant market power and reviewing measures for victim compensation.
Ministry of Employment and Labor: Investigating the alleged concealment of industrial accidents and conducting an audit of night shift labor conditions and health protection measures.
"The government will act as 'One Team' to ensure that not a single suspicion remains, providing a thorough and transparent response," stated Bae Kyung-hoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, who leads the TF. "There will be no compromise regarding acts that undermine public safety, worker lives, or fair market order."
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
