Coupang Data Breach Triggers Executive Resignations, Police Raids, and Regulatory Action

South Korean authorities escalated their response to a massive Coupang data breach that exposed personal information tied to about 34 million users, with the Personal Information Protection Commission investigating possible violations and weighing penalties reportedly reaching $770 million. Regulators also warned the e-commerce company could face a business suspension, while police repeatedly searched company offices and examined whether the breach involved insider activity and possible overseas data leakage. One report said investigators identified a former Chinese employee as a suspect, while officials said no malware had been found and did not rule out a state-backed angle.

The fallout reached Coupang's top leadership as the company's CEO resigned over the incident and police considered an overseas travel ban on senior executives. Investigators later questioned Coupang's interim chief for 12 hours as part of the criminal probe, and South Korean police said they would continue examining management responsibility for the breach and the company's handling of user data. The case also drew political attention abroad after a U.S. lawmaker accused Korean regulators of taking "discriminatory" action against Coupang, underscoring how the breach has become both a major privacy enforcement case and a high-profile corporate governance crisis.