US Reportedly Pressures South Korea to Protect Coupang Founder; Korean Foreign Ministry: Should Be Handled Separately
Reports indicate that the US is pressuring the South Korean government to ensure no travel restrictions or other measures are taken against Coupang founder and CEO Kim Beom-seok. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that security issues should be handled separately from the Coupang personal data leak case.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 17:53
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 18:02 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 22:04 (4h 2m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Qi-fang, Seoul, 22nd) Korean media reported that the US government requested the South Korean government to ensure that no measures such as travel restrictions are taken against Coupang founder and CEO Kim Beom-seok. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that security issues should be promoted separately from the Coupang personal data leak case.
According to South Korean media SBS's report today, the United States expressed to South Korea that it should ensure no measures such as travel restrictions, arrest, or detention are taken against Kim Beom-seok. Without such guarantees, it would be difficult to promote high-level bilateral agreements on diplomatic and security issues.
The report pointed out that this means if Kim Beom-seok visits South Korea, the South Korean government must promise not to affect his personal safety, and only then will the two sides continue high-level consultations on diplomatic and security issues such as nuclear-powered submarines. Last month, during South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to the United States, the US also mentioned the Coupang issue and exerted pressure.
The South Korean police are currently still investigating the previous large-scale Coupang personal data leak incident and have applied to the Ministry of Justice for an "entry notification measure" against Kim Beom-seok. South Korea has also informed the US Embassy in South Korea and others that "relevant investigations are conducted according to law, and the diplomatic department cannot make commitments regarding the personal safety of specific individuals."
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded to foreign media today, stating that South Korea and the US are maintaining close communication through various channels to implement the JFS (Joint Fact Sheet) security agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed out that the government will continue to consult with the US to avoid negative impacts of Coupang-related issues on US-South Korea security discussions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized, "The government's position is that during communication with the US, security issues should be promoted separately from the Coupang case, and the investigation into Coupang will be handled according to our domestic laws and due process." (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150422
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(Central News Agency reporter Yang Qi-fang, Seoul, 22nd) Korean media reported that the US government requested the South Korean government to ensure that no measures such as travel restrictions are taken against Coupang founder and CEO Kim Beom-seok. In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that security issues should be promoted separately from the Coupang personal data leak case.
According to South Korean media SBS's report today, the United States expressed to South Korea that it should ensure no measures such as travel restrictions, arrest, or detention are taken against Kim Beom-seok. Without such guarantees, it would be difficult to promote high-level bilateral agreements on diplomatic and security issues.
The report pointed out that this means if Kim Beom-seok visits South Korea, the South Korean government must promise not to affect his personal safety, and only then will the two sides continue high-level consultations on diplomatic and security issues such as nuclear-powered submarines. Last month, during South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to the United States, the US also mentioned the Coupang issue and exerted pressure.
The South Korean police are currently still investigating the previous large-scale Coupang personal data leak incident and have applied to the Ministry of Justice for an "entry notification measure" against Kim Beom-seok. South Korea has also informed the US Embassy in South Korea and others that "relevant investigations are conducted according to law, and the diplomatic department cannot make commitments regarding the personal safety of specific individuals."
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded to foreign media today, stating that South Korea and the US are maintaining close communication through various channels to implement the JFS (Joint Fact Sheet) security agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also pointed out that the government will continue to consult with the US to avoid negative impacts of Coupang-related issues on US-South Korea security discussions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized, "The government's position is that during communication with the US, security issues should be promoted separately from the Coupang case, and the investigation into Coupang will be handled according to our domestic laws and due process." (Editor: Zhang Zhixuan) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to instantly grasp the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.