Why Was Coupang’s Rebuttal Sent to the U.S. Before Lee’s Visit? ... Direct Clash Over Claims That the U.S. House ‘Distorted the Facts’

[Financial News] Just before President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to the United States, MOFA sent the U.S. House of Representatives a rebuttal over the Coupang issue, which has emerged as the biggest point of friction between Seoul and Washington. As tensions over Coupang have shown no sign of easing, there have been concerns that the dispute could hurt Lee’s U.S. trip. Lee is scheduled to depart for the United States on the 24th, but many have worried that it may be difficult for him to meet White House officials or figures in U.S. politics. It is still unclear whether Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will accompany him on the trip.
According to MOFA, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA delivered the government’s rebuttal on the 23rd in response to the interim staff report on Coupang that the House Judiciary Committee released earlier this month. However, it remains unclear how the visit will be affected, as Seoul and Washington have yet to find common ground on the dispute.
In its statement, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA expressed deep regret that the House Judiciary Committee’s report was written on the basis of unverified claims. It also asked the House to correct factual errors and add important omitted facts. In effect, the South Korean government directly challenged the report and lodged a formal protest.
MOFA said, "Regarding the interim staff report on Coupang released by the U.S. House of Representatives on the 1st, we delivered a detailed statement to the House Judiciary Committee to correct factual errors in the report and explain our government’s position."
The rebuttal was sent to the U.S. House just before Lee’s trip to Washington. It appears to have been coordinated among Cheong Wa Dae, MOFA, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA. Kang Kyung-wha, South Korea’s ambassador to the United States, recently returned home unexpectedly and met with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun to discuss the Coupang issue. She also coordinated the matter with Cheong Wa Dae and related ministries. Kang has said she is concerned the issue could become a longer-term problem than expected.
It is still unclear how the House will respond to MOFA’s rebuttal. The dispute could even escalate tensions with U.S. political circles. MOFA, however, appears determined to push back against what it sees as distortions by the House.
A MOFA official said, "Going forward, our government will continue to manage the Coupang issue so that it does not become a burden on the Korea-U.S. relationship, while also maintaining ongoing contact with the House Judiciary Committee and other U.S. political circles to actively respond to Coupang’s distortion of the facts."
The statement delivered by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the USA to the House outlined points including the principles behind South Korea’s regulatory legislation and enforcement, the non-discriminatory nature of its digital regulations, the facts surrounding the Coupang personal data breach and the validity of the PIPC’s sanctions, and the legality of government measures taken against Coupang, such as multi-ministry investigations and parliamentary hearings.
[email protected] Kim Kyung-soo Reporter