Coupang founder Kim Bom apologises for data leak, pledges compensation

Online retailer Coupang’s founder Kim Bom apologised for the first time for a recent leak of customer data and pledged to unveil a compensation plan as soon as possible, in a statement posted on the South Korean company’s website.

Coupang’s U.S.-based chairman said in Korean that he “sincerely apologises” for the data breach, which was first revealed in November, and also pledged investments and reforms to prevent data breaches.

Kim has faced intense criticism in South Korea for failing to attend parliamentary hearings held in Seoul earlier this month on one of the country’s worst data breaches.

On Sunday, Rep. Choi Min-hee of the ruling Democratic Party posted on Facebook a photo of a document that Kim sent to the National Assembly saying he would again be unable to attend a hearing, scheduled for this week, citing other appointments.

“What in his schedule could be more important to him than this hacking incident?” Choi said. “Kim is insulting the public.”

Kim said the company, cooperating with the government, has restored all leaked personal information, and confirmed that data from 3,000 of Coupang’s 33 million customers had been saved by a suspect on his personal computer but was not transferred or sold to any third party.

Coupang will announce a compensation plan for South Korean customers as soon as possible, he said, without elaborating.

South Korean lawmakers are seeking to take legal action against the company’s billionaire founder, arguing the New York-listed online retailer earns most of its revenue from sales in South Korea.

Kim said Coupang had worked closely with the South Korean government’s investigation into the breach, while maintaining confidentiality.

The comment followed a complaint by the government that the firm unilaterally disclosed information that the suspect was a former employee.