Police cleared Bom Kim, Coupang Inc. chair, and Harold Rogers, Coupang's interim CEO, of allegations that they failed to appear or committed perjury at the National Assembly's "Coupang affair joint hearing." Former Coupang CEO Park Dae-jun and others were sent to prosecutors.
According to police and others on the 2nd, the anti-corruption investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's major crimes division did not refer four people, including CEO Rogers and Chair Kim. Three people accused of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal at the National Assembly — former CEO Park, Coupang Vice President Jo Yong-u, and Coupang Auditor Yoon Hye-young — were sent to prosecutors without detention.
The Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee filed a complaint on Dec. 31 last year against seven current and former Coupang executives, including former CEO Park, Chair Kim, and CEO Rogers, on suspicion of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal at the National Assembly.
At the National Assembly hearing at the time, CEO Rogers testified, in the context of how Coupang directly contacted a suspect in a personal information leak case, to the effect that "the National Intelligence Service asked several times to contact the suspect," and was reported for perjury.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it had not instructed Coupang to contact the suspect and asked the National Assembly to file a complaint against CEO Rogers. Rogers' side explained that the intent of the answer was not properly conveyed during interpretation.
Chair Kim was summoned as a witness to the hearing but did not appear, citing an overseas stay, and was reported on suspicion of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal at the National Assembly.
Former CEO Park was reported after giving testimony at the hearing that differed from the facts regarding the death from overwork of Coupang logistics center worker the late Jang Deok-jun and allegations of covering up industrial accidents.