Acting Coupang CEO Harold Rogers appeared at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at about 1:55 p.m. on the 30th. Rogers is under suspicion of obstructing official duties for allegedly destroying evidence through a "self-investigation" related to Coupang's personal information leak.
Appearing that day, Rogers said, "Coupang has faithfully cooperated with the government's investigation so far," and added, "We will faithfully cooperate with the police investigation today as well."
Rogers, however, headed straight to the interview room without answering reporters' questions such as "What is the basis for saying the personal information leak is only 3,000 cases?" "Do you admit the suspicion of destroying evidence?" and "Did you lobby the United States regarding the tariff?"
Rogers left the country on the 1st and did not comply with two police summonses. After indicating willingness to appear upon the third notice, he returned to Korea on the 21st and came in for police questioning that day.
Rogers is suspected of being involved in announcing the results of an internal investigation stating that "only 3,000 items of information were actually stored (on the hard drive)" after analyzing the suspect's laptop in the personal information leak without consulting with investigative authorities. He is also suspected of perjury at a joint parliamentary hearing and of directing reports that minimized or evaded responsibility for the 2020 industrial accident death of Coupang worker the late Jang Deok-jun.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Coupang Investigation Task Force (TF) is expected to question Rogers about how he came into contact with the suspect in the personal information leak.