(qlmbusinessnews.com . Mon 1st Dec, 2025) London, UK —
Massive Data Leak Hits South Korea's Coupang, Millions of Customer Details Exposed
South Korea's Foremost Online Retail Giant, Coupang, Issues Apology for Major Data Leak Affecting Millions
In a significant cybersecurity lapse, South Korea's leading e-commerce platform, Coupang, has issued an apology following a colossal data breach that potentially jeopardises the personal details of nearly 34 million local users.
The incident, flagged as one of the country's most severe data security failures, has prompted an immediate investigation by South Korea's internet regulatory body. Early indications suggest a vast portion of customer data, encompassing millions of accounts, may have been compromised during the breach.
Often likened to Amazon.com for its vast online retail presence in South Korea, Coupang's latest security dilemma follows a worrying trend of data mishaps within significant Korean corporations, including a notable breach at SK Telecom.
The breach's details came to light when Coupang disclosed to the Reporters that initial signs of unauthorised data access were noted on 18 November, concerning around 4,500 customer accounts. A more thorough examination later revealed a staggering potential exposure of approximately 33.7 million accounts, implicating nearly two-thirds of the nation's population. The company suspects the breach originated from a server stationed overseas as early as June.
According to Coupang, compromised information includes customers' names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses, and certain order histories. Crucially, credit card details and login credentials have not been affected, offering some relief to users who, for now, are not required to take any precautionary actions regarding their accounts on the platform.
Coupang, with a substantial user base of nearly 25 million active customers and a corporate headquarters in the United States, has promptly advised its clientele to remain vigilant against any scam attempts masquerading as the retailer.
While the company has refrained from pointing fingers, South Korean media speculate that a former employee of Chinese nationality may have orchestrated the breach.
The Ministry of Science and ICT, alongside the nation's data protection watchdog, is rigorously assessing the incident's extent and Coupang's adherence to mandatory data security protocols. A statement from the ministry highlighted the urgent need for a thorough inquiry and the possibility of stringent punitive measures if violations are discovered.
Coupang's unfortunate history with cybersecurity lapses includes a precursor incident that laid bare the data of 460,000 customers. This latest breach has drawn sharp criticism from prestigious Korean outlets. Chosun Ilbo's editorial condemned the breach as “preposterous,” demanding substantial penalties for companies failing to safeguard consumer data adequately. Meanwhile, Dong-A Ilbo labeled the breach as the “worst personal data leak” in the nation's history, criticizing the apparent ineffectiveness of internal data protection frameworks.
This breach contributory to a growing list of cyber-security woes faced by top-tier South Korean enterprises this year, posing significant questions regarding the efficacy of the nation's lauded data privacy regulations. In a noteworthy incident earlier this year, SK Telecom was fined a monumental £76 million over a breach affecting more than 20 million users. Similarly, a cyber-attack on Lotte Card compromised the data of almost three million customers, underscoring the ongoing challenges in digital data protection against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
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