Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Bae Kyung-hoon of the Ministry of Science and ICT said on the 17th that discussions are underway with the Fair Trade Commission on whether to suspend Coupang's business over a personal data leak.
Bae, at a Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee hearing in the National Assembly on the Coupang personal data leak, answered a question from People Power Party lawmaker Park Jung-hoon about the status of discussions on suspending Coupang's business by saying, "We conveyed (our position) to the competent authority, the Fair Trade Commission."
However, he said, "First, the priority is to quickly complete the joint public-private investigation and make an announcement," adding, "The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) will also make a judgment based on the investigation results."
He then answered a follow-up from Park, who asked, "With public anxiety rising, do you have any intention to discuss a business suspension more proactively?" by saying, "We will discuss it proactively. We will go out for an on-site investigation with the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC)."
Bae also denied a question from Park that "the National Intelligence Service replied that the Ministry of Science and ICT refused to join the joint public-private investigative team," saying, "That never happened." He added, "We are consulting with relevant agencies, including the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and will respond (to the NIS) soon."