National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac pushed back Wednesday against a U.S. House Judiciary Committee report alleging that the Korean government targeted Coupang, saying, "If a similar case in which 33 million pieces of personal information were leaked had occurred in the United States, it could not but be a serious issue in the United States as well." Wi dismissed the allegation, saying, "We do not treat corporate activities in a discriminatory manner based on nationality, nor do we target anyone for investigation."
In a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that day, Wi stressed, "The Coupang investigation is being carried out non-discriminatorily under domestic law and in accordance with due process. The report's content—that this investigation is discriminatory and is being conducted in a targeted manner—is far from the truth."
Wi noted in particular that the 33 million pieces of personal information were leaked by a former Chinese employee of Coupang, saying, "Among that (information), there may also be information on Americans living in Korea," and that it amounted to "personal information equivalent to two-thirds of the population." He added, "(We) intend to conduct an investigation, because we have grave concerns."
Wi also said, "The (report) describes it as if the Blue House, including the president, knew in advance that the National Intelligence Service had instructed Coupang to recover equipment locally, but this is entirely untrue," adding, "The Blue House neither knew in advance of nor instructed the recovery of Coupang's personal information leak evidence or equipment from China."
