Bom Kim, chairman of Coupang, is facing criticism for snubbing the parliamentary hearing despite the fact that roughly 90 percent of Coupang’s revenue comes from the South Korean market. (Photo courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Kim Bom-seok, the founder and board chairman of Coupang Inc., has again drawn criticism in South Korea after notifying lawmakers that he will not attend a joint parliamentary hearing scheduled for Dec. 30–31 over a recent mass data breach at the company.
Kim, who holds roughly 70 percent of the voting rights at Coupang’s U.S.-listed parent and is regarded as its de facto decision-maker, submitted a written explanation to the National Assembly citing an inability to change prior commitments. His younger brother, Kim Yoo-seok, a Coupang vice president, and former chief executive Kang Han-seung also filed notices declining to appear.
The decision has intensified public and political backlash, with critics accusing Kim of evading accountability in the country where Coupang generates the bulk of its revenue. Kim has never complied with repeated summonses from the National Assembly and has faced longstanding criticism for managing the company from the United States while avoiding direct responsibility in Korea on labor and regulatory issues.
Kim issued his first public apology about a month after the breach, pledging a sweeping overhaul of Coupang’s data security systems and investments. However, his refusal to testify has raised concerns that the upcoming hearing will again lack substance, echoing a session earlier this month that lawmakers widely derided as ineffective. At that hearing, newly appointed CEO Harold Rogers appeared but was criticized for evasive answers.
The National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee holds a hearing on Coupang’s data breach incident on December 17, where Coupang CEO Harold Rogers appears as a witness to answer lawmakers’ questions. From left: Cho Yong-woo, Coupang’s vice president for parliamentary and government affairs; CEO Rogers; Min Byung-gi, Coupang’s head of external relations; and Kim Myung-gyu, CEO of Coupang Eats Service. (Yonhap)
The latest hearing will proceed with several senior executives, including the company’s chief information security officer and heads of legal, communications and external relations. Still, lawmakers and civic groups argue that the absence of Kim undermines the process, particularly as a government-led, multi-agency task force expands its investigation.
The controversy has also taken on diplomatic overtones. Robert O’Brien, a former U.S. national security adviser under President Donald Trump, recently criticized South Korea’s regulatory pressure on Coupang in a social media post, fueling accusations that the company is invoking its U.S. corporate status to push back against Korean authorities.
Public opinion has continued to sour, with consumer groups demanding a direct apology from Kim, full transparency and concrete compensation measures. Some have called for the toughest penalties allowed under Korean law, including suspension of business operations. While Coupang has promised to announce a compensation plan, its timing remains uncertain as scrutiny over the company’s response deepens.
A view of a Coupang logistics center in downtown Seoul. (Yonhap)
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
