Harold Rogers, the acting head of Coupang's Korea unit who is suspected of destroying evidence in a "massive personal data leak," appeared before police, was questioned for about 12 hours, and left the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu at about 2:22 a.m. on the 31st. When asked by reporters whether he admitted the allegations and whether he would leave the country immediately, he did not answer and walked away.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Coupang investigation task force (TF) began questioning Rogers at about 2 p.m. the previous day. Police questioned him about how Coupang secretly contacted the suspect in the data leak in China, retrieved a laptop, and conducted a forensic analysis. On the 25th of last month, Rogers announced the company's internal findings on the data leak and is suspected of obstructing government and police investigations (including obstruction of official duties).
Coupang said its internal probe found 3,000 pieces of personal information were leaked, but police believe as many as 30 million pieces may have been taken. Police believe there are suspicions that Coupang destroyed some evidence or tried to downplay the scale.
Rogers ignored two prior police summonses, then, after talk of a possible arrest warrant surfaced, said on the 14th that he would comply with the third summons and entered the country a week later. Appearing before police, he said, "Coupang will fully cooperate with the Korean government's investigation, as it always has," and added, "I will actively cooperate with today's police questioning."
Rogers is also suspected of ordering reports that minimized or evaded responsibility for an industrial accident involving a Coupang worker, the late Jang Deok-jun, who died in 2020. At a National Assembly hearing last month, he claimed the National Intelligence Service had ordered the internal probe, which the agency denied, adding a perjury allegation.
Police focused on the evidence-destruction allegations that day and reportedly did not hear Rogers' answers on other suspicions. The investigation was conducted through an interpreter, which limited the time.
Some observers say Rogers may leave the country immediately after the questioning. Police are said to be considering summoning him again.