The U.S. House of Representatives issued a subpoena for Harold Rogers, the interim head of Coupang's Korea unit. As criticism grows in the United States that the Korean government's investigation into Coupang is excessive, the move is seen as an effort to closely examine Korea's discriminatory behavior toward its own corporations.
On the 5th, Jim Jordan, the Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and others said, "Korean government agencies, including the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), are intensifying discriminatory measures against U.S. tech corporations and even raising the threat of criminal penalties against American citizens," ordering Rogers to appear before the committee on the 23rd to testify about the Korean government's "targeting" of American innovation corporations and to submit all records of communications with the presidential office, the government, the National Assembly, and others in Korea.
Appointed interim head of Coupang's Korea unit after a massive personal data leak scandal erupted, Rogers appeared before the National Assembly's Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee in Dec. last year and was recently questioned by police on suspicion of evidence destruction and perjury. After the Coupang incident, the Korean government mobilized the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Personal Information Protection Commission, the Korean National Police Agency, the Financial Supervisory Service, the National Tax Service, and others to conduct simultaneous investigations into Coupang.
Extremely sensitive to foreign government regulations on its own tech corporations, the United States has been closely watching the Coupang situation. Last month, U.S. venture capital firms that are major shareholders of Coupang submitted a notice of intent to seek investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) against the Korean government and asked the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate. Even Young Kim, a Korean American member of the House, criticized on the 3rd that "the Korean government is exerting disproportionate and excessive pressure on Coupang."
The House Judiciary Committee said, "We have long raised concerns that Korea's Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) targets American innovation corporations, indiscriminately imposes penalty surcharge and fines, and protects domestic competitors through discriminatory enforcement," adding, "In recent months, these discriminatory measures have intensified, and there are even threats of criminal penalties against American citizens."
Rogers is expected to appear before Congress on the 23rd to take questions from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers about the Coupang situation. The subpoena and other documents also expressed concern about regulatory legislation such as the online platform bill being pursued by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC). The committee said the commission is modeling the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is designed to favor European competitors, and noted, "Such measures harm consumers and small and midsize businesses, hinder innovation, and end up benefiting corporations with close ties to China."
Tyler Grimm, who previously served as chief of policy and strategy for Representative Jordan, who led the push to subpoena Rogers, is currently registered as a lobbyist representing Coupang's interests. Because of this, it appears Coupang's lobbying had considerable influence in bringing about the "Rogers hearing" in Congress.
The "Rogers hearing" comes as President Donald Trump, citing delays in the Special Act on Investment in the United States, has threatened to raise reciprocal tariffs on Korea to 25%. On Jan. 23, Vice President J.D. Vance met Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who visited Washington, D.C., for the first time since democratization, questioned him about the Coupang situation, and conveyed a request to "ensure there is no misunderstanding or tension in South Korea-U.S. relations."