Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon reiterated that a recent data breach at Coupang impacted 33 million customers in South Korea. Concerns were raised over a report released by the e-commerce giant, contradicting the assessment made by the government.
During a parliamentary session, Bae stated that a joint investigation found that names and email addresses of over 33 million users were compromised. This revelation follows Coupang’s claim that data from only around 3,000 accounts was accessed and subsequently deleted by the perpetrator.
Bae highlighted that sensitive information such as users’ addresses and order details may have also been exposed. Expressing dismay towards Coupang, he criticized the company for issuing an announcement without government coordination.
Coupang has unveiled a compensation package exceeding 1.68 trillion won ($1.17 billion) in response to the significant data breach. This initiative was introduced following a public apology from Coupang’s founder, Kim Bom-suk, acknowledging the impact on a large portion of South Korea’s population.
As part of the compensation plan, Coupang intends to provide discounts and coupons worth 50,000 won to each of the 33.7 million affected customers. The company plans to initiate compensation payments from January 15 onwards, aiming to restore trust and prioritize customer satisfaction.
Coupang’s interim CEO, Harold Rogers, emphasized the company’s commitment to customer-centric values and pledged to uphold its responsibilities diligently. The compensation scheme includes various benefits tailored to different Coupang services, reflecting a strategic shift towards enhancing customer trust.
In response to Coupang’s claims regarding the data leak, the government has dismissed them as unilateral. A comprehensive investigation involving public and private entities is ongoing, with no official conclusions released yet.
