Coupang has confirmed a fresh discovery linked to last year’s massive data breach, saying personal information from more than 165,000 customer accounts was exposed.
In a statement released Thursday, Coupang said the leaked data includes customer names, phone numbers, and shipping addresses stored in address lists. The company added that it has already notified all affected users, following guidance from South Korea’s personal information protection authority.
According to Coupang, this newly identified exposure is not a separate incident, but part of the data breach first detected in November last year. That breach has since grown into one of the largest data leak scandals in South Korea, drawing heavy scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement.
The issue became more controversial after Coupang previously stated that only about 3,000 accounts were affected. Authorities strongly dispute that claim, with investigators believing the breach may have impacted over 33 million users. The case has been widely reported by Yonhap News Agency.
As part of the investigation, Coupang’s interim CEO Harold Rogers was questioned by police for more than 12 hours over allegations related to obstruction of evidence connected to the breach. Rogers declined to comment publicly on the accusations or speculation about possible travel restrictions.
Police are now examining the credibility of Coupang’s internal investigation, while government officials have criticised the company’s findings as one-sided and incomplete.
Separately, legal pressure is also mounting on Coupang affiliates. Chung Jong-chul, CEO of Coupang Fulfillment Services, was questioned by a special counsel team over allegations of unpaid severance benefits to employees.
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With multiple investigations unfolding at the same time, Coupang is facing growing concerns over data protection practices, transparency, and labor compliance, marking a critical moment for South Korea’s largest online retailer.
