As Coupang is set to issue coupons as compensation for the personal information leak, it has been confirmed that Coupang Travel coupons can be used to buy e-gift cards for items like chicken, coffee, and cosmetics rather than travel products. But there are concerns on online communities that after the 15th, when the compensation coupons are actually issued, Coupang could stop e-gift card purchases or impose quantity limits.
According to the industry on the 12th, Coupang will provide a total of 50,000 won in compensation coupons to users affected by the data leak starting on the 15th. The package consists of ▲ 5,000 won for Coupang ▲ 5,000 won for the delivery platform Coupang Eats ▲ 20,000 won for the travel platform Coupang Travel ▲ 20,000 won for the luxury platform R.LUX.
Right after Coupang announced the compensation plan, criticism arose that only 10,000 won worth of coupons usable in daily life—Coupang and Coupang Eats, the core services—were included. Complaints also erupted that the relatively less frequently used Coupang Travel and R.LUX took up a large share, saying the plan felt more like marketing than compensation.
However, it was determined that users can buy e-gift cards priced under the 20,000 won range on Coupang Travel that are not travel products. If you search for "e-gift card" in the "Ticket/Pass" menu on Coupang Travel, many e-gift cards for well-known franchises like coffee and chicken appear.
E-gift cards currently available on Coupang Travel include ▲ Coffee: PAIK'S COFFEE, Starbucks, COMPOSE COFFEE, A TWOSOME PLACE, etc. ▲ Chicken: Goobne Chicken, Puradak, BHC, BBQ, etc. ▲ Burgers: Lotteria, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, etc. ▲ Pizza: Domino's Pizza, Mr. Pizza, Papa John's, Pizza Nara, etc. ▲ Movies: Lotte Cinema, Megabox, CGV, etc. ▲ General restaurants: Goban Sikdang, Ttantz Budae Jjigae, Myeongnyun Jinsa Galbi, etc. ▲ Stored-value cards: Kyobo Book Centre, Smile Gift, Olive Young.
If Coupang does not impose separate restrictions on the Coupang Travel compensation coupon, users without travel plans will be able to purchase e-gift cards that can be used in daily life.
On social media, ways to use Coupang Travel coupons to buy e-gift cards are already spreading. On X, related posts have surpassed 3 million views. Users said, "We should use the coupons as efficiently as possible," "I thought it was only for travel products, but that's unexpected," and "Aren't sellers intentionally posting these?"
On R.LUX as well, methods to buy "cost-effective" cosmetics in the 10,000–20,000 won range instead of luxury fashion and beauty products are being shared mainly on online communities.
However, some users are concerned that around the time the compensation coupons are issued, Coupang could change policies to restrict e-gift card purchases on Coupang Travel. One internet user wrote, "I'm 100% sure Coupang will block purchases or impose quantity limits." There is also speculation that R.LUX could reduce the share of low-priced items.
There were also concerns that using the Coupang compensation coupons could amount to a "covenant not to sue." A covenant not to sue is a legal term meaning that, because the parties settled amicably, they will raise no further civil or criminal objections. If such a covenant is established, users could face disadvantages in later damages lawsuits or be restricted from participating at all.
However, at a National Assembly hearing, interim Coupang CEO Harold Rogers, when asked, "Will you include a covenant not to sue clause in the terms, whereby no civil objections will be raised in the future?" answered, "There are no conditions on the purchase voucher." As a result, some interpret that using the compensation coupon is unlikely to affect participation in a class-action lawsuit.
Coupang says standards have not yet been finalized. A Coupang official said, "The specifics related to the use of compensation coupons have not yet been finalized," and "As far as we know, there are no conditions or restrictions, such as a covenant not to sue clause, on the compensation coupons."