The founder of Coupang, Kim Bom-suk, issued a formal apology for a significant data breach affecting a large portion of South Korea’s population. Kim expressed regret on behalf of Coupang employees, acknowledging the frustration caused by the leak of personal information. He admitted the delay in his apology, attributing it to the intention of confirming all facts before issuing a statement.
Kim’s apology follows the exposure of personal data of around 34 million Coupang customers in South Korea. Coupang reported identifying the ex-employee responsible for the breach, recovering hacking equipment, and obtaining a confession from the hacker. However, the government disputed Coupang’s investigation findings, noting that a joint public-private inquiry has not yet disclosed any conclusions.
Despite criticism for not attending a parliamentary hearing on the breach, Kim, along with his brother and a former Coupang CEO, submitted statements citing prior commitments. Lawmakers had previously threatened to file a complaint against Kim for his absence at the hearings.
