Accused of Cracking Down on US Firms Like Coupang, South Korea's Foreign Ministry Promises Fair Treatment
Following a joint letter from 55 US lawmakers to the South Korean ambassador demanding an end to the crackdown on US companies, Seoul's Foreign Ministry promised to ensure fair treatment for tech firms like Coupang, free from discriminatory measures.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 15:06
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 15:32 (25 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 15:44 (12 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA, Seoul, 23rd) On the 21st, US federal lawmakers sent a joint letter to the South Korean Ambassador to the US, demanding an end to the crackdown on American companies in South Korea. Seoul authorities stated today that they will ensure US tech companies in South Korea, such as the e-commerce platform Coupang, are not subjected to discriminatory measures.
According to Reuters, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement noting that Seoul is taking relevant measures to ensure US companies do not face discriminatory treatment or unnecessary barriers, adding that this guarantee was included in the Joint Fact Sheet signed under the US-South Korea trade agreement framework last November.
Fifty-five US representatives co-signed the letter to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha on the 21st, urging South Korean authorities to immediately halt discriminatory business practices against US companies. They stated that the series of regulatory actions faced by American tech firms like Apple, Google, Meta, and Coupang is particularly concerning.
The lawmakers expressed that South Korea, citing a "low-sensitivity data leak incident last November," has launched a cross-ministerial administrative crackdown on Coupang. This includes threats to revoke its business license, pressure on pension funds to divest, and demands to sell off shares in Coupang's holding company.
"We remain firmly committed to ensuring that your government ceases its crackdown on Coupang and other US companies in South Korea," the letter stated.
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the investigation into Coupang's data breach is proceeding according to South Korean legal procedures and will not differ based on the nationality of the company.
(CNA, Seoul, 23rd) On the 21st, US federal lawmakers sent a joint letter to the South Korean Ambassador to the US, demanding an end to the crackdown on American companies in South Korea. Seoul authorities stated today that they will ensure US tech companies in South Korea, such as the e-commerce platform Coupang, are not subjected to discriminatory measures.
According to Reuters, South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement noting that Seoul is taking relevant measures to ensure US companies do not face discriminatory treatment or unnecessary barriers, adding that this guarantee was included in the Joint Fact Sheet signed under the US-South Korea trade agreement framework last November.
Fifty-five US representatives co-signed the letter to South Korean Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha on the 21st, urging South Korean authorities to immediately halt discriminatory business practices against US companies. They stated that the series of regulatory actions faced by American tech firms like Apple, Google, Meta, and Coupang is particularly concerning.
The lawmakers expressed that South Korea, citing a "low-sensitivity data leak incident last November," has launched a cross-ministerial administrative crackdown on Coupang. This includes threats to revoke its business license, pressure on pension funds to divest, and demands to sell off shares in Coupang's holding company.
"We remain firmly committed to ensuring that your government ceases its crackdown on Coupang and other US companies in South Korea," the letter stated.
South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the investigation into Coupang's data breach is proceeding according to South Korean legal procedures and will not differ based on the nationality of the company.