South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan is set to visit the United States this week for the inauguration of a pivotal joint shipbuilding center, government officials confirmed Sunday. The visit draws significant attention, particularly regarding potential discussions on the contentious issue involving US-listed e-commerce giant, Coupang.
Minister Kim’s itinerary includes a trip to Washington for the official opening ceremony of the Korea-US Shipbuilding Partnership Center on Thursday (local time). During this key event, he is anticipated to explore strategies for advancing robust bilateral cooperation within the shipbuilding industry. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is also slated to attend, underscoring the strategic importance of this partnership.
Industry observers suggest Minister Kim’s US visit could also serve as a crucial platform for Seoul to articulate its stance amidst ongoing complaints from Washington concerning the extensive data leak investigation at Coupang. This regulatory scrutiny has become a notable point of friction between the allies, following concerns raised by some US officials and lawmakers regarding potential unfair treatment of the e-commerce company.
Adding to the diplomatic efforts, South Korean Ambassador to the US, Kang Kyung-wha, recently returned to Seoul last week for high-level consultations with various government agencies, likely pertaining to these ongoing issues.
The escalating tension has garnered heightened attention, particularly after a recent report from the US House Judiciary Committee and comments from a White House official criticized South Korea’s regulatory probes into Coupang’s significant data leak, labeling them as potentially discriminatory.
Conversely, the South Korean government has consistently asserted that its investigation into Coupang is being conducted impartially, adhering strictly to due process under domestic law and without discrimination.
The massive data leak, first reported late last year, impacted an alarming nearly 34 million user accounts at Coupang, as revealed by a police investigation. This staggering figure represents close to two-thirds of South Korea’s total population of approximately 51.6 million, highlighting the widespread nature of the breach.
