Bum-seok Kim, Chairman of Coupang Inc., announced that he will not attend the upcoming National Assembly hearing regarding the leak of personal information of 33.7 million individuals. He cited his overseas residence and responsibilities as CEO of a global company operating in over 170 countries as reasons for non-attendance. This decision was met with criticism from members of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, particularly those from the Democratic Party, who described his attitude as “arrogant” and dismissive of the public.
Kim expressed regret over his inability to attend, requesting understanding due to his official business obligations. Former Coupang CEO Dae-jun Park, who resigned following the data breach incident, also declined to appear, citing health reasons and having already answered questions in previous meetings. Similarly, Han-seung Kang, who resigned in May prior to the incident, stated he has no current knowledge of the company’s affairs and is unable to represent Coupang’s stance.
The absence of these executives prompted a stern response from the committee members, accusing Coupang’s management of evading responsibility and undermining public trust. They emphasized that while the company might escape across borders, its accountability does not.
Additionally, it was reported that Park had harshly criticized key personnel just before the hacking announcement. This has drawn attention due to the focus on the wrong department, suggesting a misplacement of responsibility, as the real issue lay with poor security management, such as neglecting former employee accounts.