Coupang HQ Raided After Data Breach That Exposed 33.7 Million Customers

South Korean police carried out a search-and-seizure operation at Coupang's Seoul headquarters on Tuesday as part of an investigation into a major data breach that authorities say exposed the personal information of 33.7 million customers.

What Authorities Say

Police and local media report the breach was carried out through Coupang's overseas servers between June 24 and November 8. Coupang told regulators the leaked data included names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses and portions of order histories. The company said payment information and login credentials were not affected.

Raid And Investigation

Seoul police described the raid as a "necessary measure" in the probe, deploying 17 officers from the cyber investigation unit to execute the search-and-seizure. Officials said they will "comprehensively investigate" the incident using evidence obtained during the operation.

Suspect, Legal Fallout And Government Response

Coupang filed a complaint naming an alleged culprit — a former employee who is a Chinese national — but the suspect has not yet been apprehended. The company now faces a class-action lawsuit in the United States over the fallout from the leak.

At the national level, President Lee Jae-myung has urged swift penalties for those responsible. The presidential office pressed Coupang to explain how it will compensate users whose data was stolen; presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told Yonhap, "Coupang must present clear measures outlining how it will take responsibility if damages occur."

Context And Broader Cybersecurity Concerns

The incident follows other high-profile breaches in South Korea, including a cyberattack on SK Telecom that led to a 134 billion won ($91 million) fine after personal data for nearly 27 million users was exposed. South Korea, one of the world's most digitally connected nations, has also been targeted by state-linked hacking groups; authorities previously reported North Korean operatives stole sensitive files from a South Korean court network and have linked other major breaches to groups with ties to North Korea. Yonhap additionally reported authorities suspect a North Korea-linked group in a recent attack on cryptocurrency exchange Upbit that resulted in the unauthorized withdrawal of 44.5 billion won in digital assets.

What Comes Next: Police investigations are ongoing; authorities have pledged a thorough probe and Coupang is expected to outline its plan for compensating affected customers while facing legal action abroad.