55 US Representatives Co-sign Letter Accusing South Korean Authorities of Being Pro-China and Suppressing US Companies
55 US Congressmen sent a letter to the South Korean ambassador, protesting the Korean government's suppression of US companies like Coupang and favoring of Chinese firms.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 11:27
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 11:31 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 12:52 (1h 20m after Collected)
Central News Agency Message
(CNA Washington 22nd Comprehensive Foreign Report) 55 US Congress members jointly sent a letter yesterday to South Korean Ambassador to the US, Kang Kyung-wha, demanding that South Korea cease discriminatory business practices against US companies. They accused the South Korean leadership of being pro-China, intentionally suppressing US companies, and favoring Chinese-funded enterprises.
According to Fox News, the joint letter was spearheaded by Republican Representative Darrell Issa of California and Republican Representative Michael Baumgartner of Washington State.
The letter stated: "Many American technology companies face a series of regulatory actions that are clearly aimed at US firms while shielding their South Korean domestic competitors... According to recent research by the think tank Competere, such regulatory actions by the South Korean government will cause a total economic loss of $1 trillion (about NT$32.5 trillion) to the US and South Korea over the next 10 years, of which the US economic loss will be nearly $525 billion (about NT$17.0625 trillion), averaging almost $4,000 (about NT$130,000) per American family."
The letter also pointed out: "We are firmly committed to ensuring your government stops suppressing Coupang and other US companies in South Korea, which greatly impacts US economic and security interests."
The letter mentioned that the deepening ties between South Korea and large Chinese enterprises are equally concerning. If South Korea truly drives US companies out of the online retail market, Chinese platforms will quickly fill the void, raising security concerns. It claimed these platforms "have lucrative partnerships with South Korean companies, thereby receiving preferential treatment."
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Issa said: "South Korea remains an important strategic partner, but they elected a left-wing government closely tied to China last time. They have even started cracking down on US companies, not just large ones like Meta, but also Coupang, known as the 'Amazon of South Korea', which people might not be familiar with."
Issa pointed out that Coupang was founded by a Korean-American but has been systematically suppressed, likely simply because it is an American company and also a South Korean unicorn. "We see South Korea adopting Europe's digital regulatory rules, which were originally designed to localize the market rather than embrace excellent companies that succeed globally on their own merits."
Baumgartner issued a statement to Fox News Digital stating that they want to ensure this does not become a new normal, where US tech companies are targeted through selective enforcement actions.
The US and South Korea signed the KORUS FTA in 2018 to promote trade between the two countries.
Issa said: "South Korea relies on the US market to sell Hyundai, Kia cars, and of course Samsung products. Our free trade agreement allows these products to enter the US with minimal or zero tariffs. If they want to keep this benefit, we must use this leverage well." (Compiled by: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150423
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(CNA Washington 22nd Comprehensive Foreign Report) 55 US Congress members jointly sent a letter yesterday to South Korean Ambassador to the US, Kang Kyung-wha, demanding that South Korea cease discriminatory business practices against US companies. They accused the South Korean leadership of being pro-China, intentionally suppressing US companies, and favoring Chinese-funded enterprises.
According to Fox News, the joint letter was spearheaded by Republican Representative Darrell Issa of California and Republican Representative Michael Baumgartner of Washington State.
The letter stated: "Many American technology companies face a series of regulatory actions that are clearly aimed at US firms while shielding their South Korean domestic competitors... According to recent research by the think tank Competere, such regulatory actions by the South Korean government will cause a total economic loss of $1 trillion (about NT$32.5 trillion) to the US and South Korea over the next 10 years, of which the US economic loss will be nearly $525 billion (about NT$17.0625 trillion), averaging almost $4,000 (about NT$130,000) per American family."
The letter also pointed out: "We are firmly committed to ensuring your government stops suppressing Coupang and other US companies in South Korea, which greatly impacts US economic and security interests."
The letter mentioned that the deepening ties between South Korea and large Chinese enterprises are equally concerning. If South Korea truly drives US companies out of the online retail market, Chinese platforms will quickly fill the void, raising security concerns. It claimed these platforms "have lucrative partnerships with South Korean companies, thereby receiving preferential treatment."
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Issa said: "South Korea remains an important strategic partner, but they elected a left-wing government closely tied to China last time. They have even started cracking down on US companies, not just large ones like Meta, but also Coupang, known as the 'Amazon of South Korea', which people might not be familiar with."
Issa pointed out that Coupang was founded by a Korean-American but has been systematically suppressed, likely simply because it is an American company and also a South Korean unicorn. "We see South Korea adopting Europe's digital regulatory rules, which were originally designed to localize the market rather than embrace excellent companies that succeed globally on their own merits."
Baumgartner issued a statement to Fox News Digital stating that they want to ensure this does not become a new normal, where US tech companies are targeted through selective enforcement actions.
The US and South Korea signed the KORUS FTA in 2018 to promote trade between the two countries.
Issa said: "South Korea relies on the US market to sell Hyundai, Kia cars, and of course Samsung products. Our free trade agreement allows these products to enter the US with minimal or zero tariffs. If they want to keep this benefit, we must use this leverage well." (Compiled by: Chang Ming-hsuan) 1150423
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA 'First Hand News' APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-visuals on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.