What Actions Will the Presidential Office Take After Coupang's Data Breach?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Seoul, December 25 (NationPress) – The presidential office is preparing to convene an emergency meeting with key government officials later today to address a significant data breach involving the prominent e-commerce platform Coupang, as reported by informed sources to Yonhap news agency.
According to an anonymous source, the government recognizes the severity of the breach. “The urgency of the matter has led to this meeting occurring even during the holiday,” the source stated.
Kim Yong-beom, the chief of staff for policy, is expected to lead the meeting, which will include attendees such as Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, Chair of the Personal Information Protection Commission Song Kyung-hee, Chair of the Korea Media Communications Commission Kim Jong-cheol, and Chair of the Fair Trade Commission Ju Biung-ghi. Officials from investigative bodies, including the National Police Agency, are also anticipated to participate, according to the source.
In a noteworthy development, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and representatives from the National Security Office will also be present, suggesting they might investigate Coupang's lobbying efforts in the United States.
Other insiders have pointed out that the meeting being held on a holiday underscores the seriousness with which President Lee Jae Myung regards this issue.
During a briefing by the finance ministry on December 11, the president criticized the U.S.-listed e-commerce company, stating, “These individuals show no fear of consequences.”
Previously, South Korea established an interagency task force (TF) to investigate the recent data breach at Coupang, which has impacted approximately 33.7 million users.
The newly formed TF, made up of officials from the science and labor ministries, along with representatives from the media regulatory body, financial authorities, police, and intelligence agency, convened for its initial meeting to uncover the facts surrounding the breach, as per the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The task force is set to explore strategies to enhance user protection and reform data security policies, according to the ministry.