Coupang Probe Emerges as a Seoul–Washington Flashpoint Linking Data Governance, Lobbying, and Tariff Pressure
The Diplomat reports that South Korea’s investigation into Coupang following a major customer data breach is increasingly entangled with U.S. political pressure, investor actions, and tariff signaling. The episode highlights how domestic digital regulation can escalate into alliance-level trade friction, testing Seoul’s ability to balance sovereignty concerns with de-escalation in Washington.