Yeo Han-koo, head of the Office of the Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, who is visiting the United States, said on the 11th (local time) regarding Coupang's massive data leak that "it is necessary to respond separately from trade or diplomatic issues."
Deputy Minister Yeo met with reporters upon arriving via Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., the same day and said, "(The Korean government) is not targeting or treating a specific U.S. corporation (Coupang) in a discriminatory way."
Deputy Minister Yeo said, "Essentially, the core of the problem is the massive data leak at Coupang and the inadequate response that followed," and emphasized, "Because we are handling the process fairly in a non-discriminatory manner, it is necessary to respond to those aspects strictly separately from trade or diplomatic issues."
Deputy Minister Yeo departed on the 11th to allay U.S. concerns over domestic digital regulation legislation that has emerged as a trade issue between Korea and the United States. The U.S. administration and Congress have complained that the amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection passed by the National Assembly late last year and the currently pending Online Platform Act amount to regulations targeting U.S. corporations.
Regarding this, Deputy Minister Yeo said, "It is important to clearly and accurately explain our government's policy direction and the purpose of the legislation," and added, "It appears there are points that the U.S. side has partially misunderstood." He continued, "As U.S. government officials as well as members of the House and Senate are speaking out on this matter, during the visit I will broadly engage with lawmakers and industry associations related to the digital field to fully explain and seek understanding of the Korean government's legislative intent."
As for the schedule of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee meeting, which was to be held to discuss non-tariff barriers during the Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations but was postponed once, he explained, "We are communicating closely with the USTR on the agenda and schedule." He added, "We will finalize the schedule as soon as both sides complete preparations," and "On core and substantive issues, constructive discussions are taking place through ongoing communication at both the high-level and working-level."
On observations that the U.S. Supreme Court could soon issue a decision regarding reciprocal tariffs, whose rate Korea and the United States lowered to 15% through a trade agreement, Deputy Minister Yeo noted, "The key is what ruling comes out, but there are quite a few variables." He explained, "It is difficult to predict the outcome at this stage," and "This visit to the United States is also aimed at hearing diverse views from the U.S. government, law firms, and trade experts and preparing for multiple possibilities."
Deputy Minister Yeo is scheduled to return on the 15th after meeting with USTR chief Jamieson Greer and members of the House and Senate during the trip. He said, "I will do my utmost, placing the national interest first, to ensure our government's position is conveyed accurately and persuasively."