Techno Blogging
South Korea’s government has said it will ensure U.S. technology companies are not subjected to discriminatory treatment, following concerns raised by American lawmakers over regulatory actions targeting major firms operating in the country.
The assurance, issued by South Korea’s foreign ministry, applies to companies including Coupang, Apple, Google, and Meta.
The statement comes after a group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Michael Baumgartner, sent a letter to South Korea’s ambassador raising concerns about what they described as “discriminatory regulatory actions” against American businesses.
Lawmakers specifically cited actions against Coupang, alleging that South Korean authorities had used a 2025 data breach as a basis for broader regulatory pressure, including potential threats to business licences and investor actions.
In response, Seoul said it is implementing measures to ensure that U.S. digital companies do not face unfair barriers, reiterating commitments made under a bilateral trade framework agreed with Washington.
At the same time, the government emphasized that its ongoing investigation into Coupang’s data breach—affecting more than 30 million users—is being conducted under domestic laws and applies equally regardless of a company’s nationality.
Officials also stressed that the issue should not be linked to broader strategic discussions between the two countries, including ongoing security and defense cooperation.
The development highlights growing tensions around digital regulation and market access, as governments seek to balance data protection enforcement with maintaining fair competition for global technology firms operating across jurisdictions.
The assurance, issued by South Korea’s foreign ministry, applies to companies including Coupang, Apple, Google, and Meta.
The statement comes after a group of U.S. lawmakers, led by Michael Baumgartner, sent a letter to South Korea’s ambassador raising concerns about what they described as “discriminatory regulatory actions” against American businesses.
Lawmakers specifically cited actions against Coupang, alleging that South Korean authorities had used a 2025 data breach as a basis for broader regulatory pressure, including potential threats to business licences and investor actions.
In response, Seoul said it is implementing measures to ensure that U.S. digital companies do not face unfair barriers, reiterating commitments made under a bilateral trade framework agreed with Washington.
At the same time, the government emphasized that its ongoing investigation into Coupang’s data breach—affecting more than 30 million users—is being conducted under domestic laws and applies equally regardless of a company’s nationality.
Officials also stressed that the issue should not be linked to broader strategic discussions between the two countries, including ongoing security and defense cooperation.
The development highlights growing tensions around digital regulation and market access, as governments seek to balance data protection enforcement with maintaining fair competition for global technology firms operating across jurisdictions.
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