**South Korea’s FTC Threatens Suspension for Coupang Over Data Breach**
South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has warned e-commerce giant Coupang that it may face business suspension if investigations confirm the company’s responsibility in a recent data leak. The FTC’s chair, Han Ki-jeong, emphasized the potential regulatory action during a parliamentary audit, underscoring the severity of the breach.
The incident, which came to light in early 2024, involved unauthorized access to customer data, though specific details—such as the scale of the leak or the method of compromise—remain undisclosed. Coupang, one of South Korea’s largest online retailers, has faced scrutiny over its data security practices following past incidents, raising concerns about compliance with the country’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
If the FTC determines Coupang violated data protection laws, the company could be ordered to halt operations temporarily—a rare but significant penalty under South Korean regulations. The outcome of the investigation may set a precedent for how authorities enforce cybersecurity standards in the country’s rapidly growing digital marketplace.
Source: https://www.ajupress.com/view/20251221133438234
Coupang cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/coupang
"id": "COU1766347021",
"linkid": "coupang",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "12/2025",
"severity": "85",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Retail',
'location': 'South Korea',
'name': 'Coupang',
'type': 'E-commerce'}],
'description': "Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) chief signals suspension "
'of operations for Coupang if fault is confirmed in a data '
'leak incident.',
'impact': {'operational_impact': 'Potential suspension of operations'},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing',
'references': [{'source': 'News Article'}],
'regulatory_compliance': {'legal_actions': 'Potential suspension by FTC'},
'title': 'Potential Data Leak at Coupang',
'type': 'Data Breach'}