[the300], In a recent meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, President Lee Jae-myung addressed a major data breach at the e-commerce company Coupang, where approximately 33.7 million pieces of personal information were leaked. President Lee urged relevant ministries to look at overseas examples to strengthen fines and implement punitive damage compensation systems to establish practical and effective measures.
On December 2, during the cabinet meeting, President Lee expressed concern for the public, stating, “Many citizens are worried because of Coupang.” He noted the vast scale of the breach, involving about 34 million cases, and was astonished that the company failed to detect the leak for five months. He called for a swift investigation into the cause of the incident and for strict accountability, along with mobilizing all possible means to prevent secondary damages from the misuse of leaked information.
President Lee also emphasized the need to transform the outdated practices and perceptions regarding personal data protection, which are crucial assets in the age of AI and digital technology. He advocated for a “paradigm shift” in digital security encompassing both private and public sectors in preparation for a hyper-connected digital society.
Coupang revealed in an announcement on November 29 that unauthorized access to approximately 4,500 customer accounts, including personal information, had been detected on November 18. Further investigations confirmed that around 33.7 million sets of customer data, such as names, email addresses, delivery addresses, and some order information, were leaked.
President Lee additionally reflected on the past year since a critical moment for South Korea’s democracy and constitutional order occurred on December 3, stating that the “Revolution of Light” overcame the night of rebellion and heralded a new dawn for democracy. He praised the efforts of the citizen-led government in the past six months, mentioning achievements like concluding tariff negotiations and advancing the country’s strategic capabilities by confirming the construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Furthermore, President Lee highlighted persistent issues like wage arrears, which threaten workers’ and their families’ livelihoods, with losses in the first half of the year exceeding a record 11 trillion won. He suggested that resolving these issues requires going beyond conventional methods and noted that a comprehensive investigation into reported wage arrears cases has begun, emphasizing the need for thorough field inspections and stronger penalties for habitual offenders.