Foreign Ministry Says Coupang Probe Is Lawful Regardless of Nationality, Plans Outreach to Persuade U.S.

[The Financial News] The government has decided to dispel misunderstandings through outreach efforts after U.S. political circles asked that discrimination against Coupang be avoided. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea official told reporters on the 23rd that the ministry would make outreach efforts to US Congress on the issue. The goal is to engage directly with major figures, organizations and opinion leaders in the United States and actively persuade them through diplomatic outreach.
On the 21st, Kang Kyung-wha, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States of America, received a request from U.S. political circles to prevent discriminatory treatment against Coupang, a U.S. company. Fifty-four lawmakers from the Republican Study Committee, a group of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a letter to Kang urging an immediate end to discriminatory regulations against U.S. companies doing business in South Korea.
As a result, concerns were raised that U.S. lawmakers could link the Coupang investigation to South Korea-U.S. security relationship issues.
The Foreign Ministry official explained, "The government is faithfully carrying out its commitment, agreed upon in the joint fact sheet between the leaders of South Korea and the United States, that American digital companies will not face discriminatory measures or unnecessary barriers, and Coupang falls under that commitment."
He added, "The investigation and measures regarding Coupang are being carried out in accordance with our domestic laws and due process, and they are being conducted in a non-discriminatory manner regardless of nationality." He said the government has continued to explain this position to US Congress and will maintain the same basic stance going forward.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter