The National Assembly has highlighted that the United States is using Coupang as leverage to exert pressure on South Korea. There’s growing bipartisan concern about the U.S. government linking the Coupang issue to trade matters.
During a briefing on Wednesday, where the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information, and Broadcasting Committee received a report from the Ministry of Science and ICT, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle voiced these concerns.
Representative Choi Soo Jin of the People Power Party said that the Coupang situation has escalated into an international issue and argued that U.S. pressure is harming domestic consumers and small businesses while stifling innovation, adding that the United States is using Coupang as leverage.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bang Kyung Hoon acknowledged, “It’s difficult to say it is difficult to claim there is no impact, adding that various lobbying efforts appear to be underway to protect Coupang’s interests and its shareholders and that the government should respond based on facts.
He further added that, despite the release of findings by a joint public-private investigation team, Coupang continues to dispute them, and that the situation requires precise clarification and appropriate responses to prevent it from escalating into a diplomatic issue. He said the government is considering and responding to the matter at multiple levels.
Representative Lee Sang Hwi of the People Power Party also raised suspicions about Coupang lobbying the U.S. government.
He asked, “In light of the Coupang situation, isn’t the Korean government’s response weaker than a private company’s lobbying efforts?” He then asked the Deputy Prime Minister if he believes Coupang is indeed engaging in lobbying.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae said he had only learned about the lobbying through media reports, adding that the government is addressing matters that require diplomatic and trade-level handling and that each ministry is fulfilling its responsibilities.
People Power Party lawmaker Park Chung Kwon said the U.S. House Judiciary Committee had sent a message requesting the presence of Coupang CEO Rogers, suggesting it was defending American innovation companies. He then asked whether this was related to potential tariff increases and whether the South Korean government’s influence is really weaker than Coupang’s.
Deputy Prime Minister Bae said that tariff agreements are an issue that the government and the National Assembly must address together. He added that the government is continuously addressing the situation with Coupang, not avoiding it, and coordinating through ongoing discussions with multiple ministries.
Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Jeong A called for a thorough investigation into the Coupang situation, pointing to a recent letter from the U.S. Embassy requesting non-discrimination against American companies and interpreting it as pressure related to Coupang. She asked whether the government has ever taken any discriminatory action against Coupang.
Bae replied that the government is proceeding in accordance with laws and principles, adding that it is focusing on a thorough investigation to clarify the facts.