The Coupang labor union demanded a direct apology from Bom Kim, the founder and chair of the board at Coupang Inc., over Coupang's personal data leak.
According to the industry on the 16th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Chemical, Textile and Food Industry Union Coupang Chapter (CUNION) stated accordingly through an official position it released the previous day. CUNION is the Coupang Group's union that encompasses employees across all affiliates, centered on headquarters office staff.
The union said, "Rather than resolving the situation responsibly, the representative is avoiding responsibility by resigning, prolonging the situation, and amplifying the corporations' crisis, spreading anxiety even to employees," and added, "Before the company becomes more strained, the top executive stepping up personally to resolve it is the fundamental and only way."
It continued, "Chair Bom Kim should not evade responsibility for this situation or shift it onto working-level staff, but, as the de facto management leader, should stand before customers and employees and offer a sincere apology," adding, "What is needed is a clear and public apology that acknowledges responsibility for this situation and promises to prevent a recurrence, not a formal statement or legalistic phrasing."
It also urged the company to prepare responsible compensation for affected customers and measures to prevent a recurrence. The union said, "Present a compensation method to consumers (who suffered personal data leaks) with processes and standards disclosed transparently," and called for a comprehensive inspection of the lax security system and the preparation of measures to prevent a recurrence.
It also stressed that employees' jobs must be protected. The union said, "We express serious concern about the possibility that the burden of this situation will be shifted onto employees. If large-scale restructuring or workforce reductions are carried out, it will amount to shifting responsibility for the situation onto frontline workers and office staff," adding, "Disadvantages must not lead to issues directly tied to employees' livelihoods, such as pay, evaluations, and job security."