Reference to Coupang reportedly surfaces at Korea–U.S. foreign ministers’ meeting, highlighting gap between Cho and Rubio

At the Korea–U.S. foreign ministers’ meeting between Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Secretary Marco Rubio, there was reportedly a remark that appeared to allude to Coupang. Before departing for the United States, Cho had said that the Korean government was refraining as much as possible from making public comments about Coupang.
According to government sources on the 6th, the meeting held on the 3rd (local time) at the State Department in Washington included discussions that were seen as hinting at the Coupang situation.
However, the government sources cautioned against overinterpreting the issue, noting that the Coupang matter is less a diplomatic dispute and more a case arising from lobbying by a specific company in the United States.
Cho was also reported to have told Rubio, "If you suddenly announce tariff hikes like this, it actually makes it harder for us to take the necessary domestic steps for our bilateral relationship and for investment in the United States." Despite this, Rubio made no particular mention of lowering tariffs immediately after the Korea–U.S. foreign ministers’ meeting.
Cho plans to stay in the United States for the time being and hold meetings with members of Congress as well. In the meantime, on the 5th, the House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to Harold Rogers, Coupang’s chief administrative officer and head of legal, who is serving as acting head of Coupang’s Korean subsidiary.
The committee formally requested Rogers’ appearance at a Judiciary Committee hearing. This is a step toward launching an official investigation into claims that the Korean government is treating Coupang in a discriminatory manner. According to the subpoena attached by the committee, acting head Rogers must appear at a congressional hearing scheduled for the 23rd of this month.

rainman@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Kyung-soo Reporter