South Korean police have indicated that personal data linked to more than 30 million Coupang user accounts may have been compromised, significantly expanding the scope of a cyber breach initially downplayed by the e-commerce giant.
Park Jeong-bo, Commissioner General of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, spoke on Monday about the ongoing investigation. He said investigators believe data from tens of millions of users was leaked. This directly contradicts Coupang’s claim that only 3,000 accounts were affected. He made the remarks during a media briefing amid growing scrutiny of the company’s internal investigation.
According to Park, authorities have yet to determine the precise volume of data exposed, but evidence suggests the scale far exceeds Coupang’s public disclosures. He added that police are examining whether the company deliberately minimised the seriousness of the breach in its findings.
Coupang had announced on December 25 that a former employee of Chinese nationality illegally accessed personal information from approximately 33 million users. The company claimed that the employee allegedly retained data relating to only a small fraction of them. The company maintained that the broader dataset was neither saved nor misused.
CEO Under Police Scrutiny
The investigation has now intensified due to the repeated absence of Coupang’s interim chief executive officer, Harold Rogers. He has failed to respond to two formal police summonses issued earlier this month. Authorities confirmed that a third summons has been sent, although the scheduled date has not yet elapsed.
Police officials said they consider Rogers’ testimony crucial to understanding the circumstances surrounding Coupang’s internal probe and its handling of the incident.
When asked about the likelihood of seeking an arrest warrant if Rogers again fails to comply, Park said the police have not made a final decision. However, he said law enforcement will follow standard procedures. Under these, officers may seek an arrest warrant if an individual repeatedly ignores police summonses without sufficient justification.
The case has heightened public concern over corporate accountability. It has also raised worries about data protection standards in South Korea’s rapidly expanding digital commerce sector. Regulators are now under pressure to ensure transparency and consumer safety.
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