South Korea’s biggest online shopping company, Coupang, has suffered a huge data breach. The personal details of 33.7 million customers were exposed, making it one of the country’s largest-ever hacks. This incident has raised serious concerns about how well companies protect customer information.
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What Happened?
On June 24, 2025, hackers gained unauthorized access to Coupang’s systems. The breach went undetected for months until November 18, 2025, when Coupang finally discovered the intrusion. Exposed data included names, phone numbers, email addresses, and delivery addresses. Coupang insists that financial details, credit card numbers, and login credentials were not compromised.
The suspected culprit? Reports point to a former Chinese employee who allegedly exploited an authentication loophole. While investigations are ongoing, the scale of the breach is unprecedented in South Korea.
Coupang’s Response
In a rare public apology, Coupang CEO Park Dae-joon bowed before cameras at a government complex in Seoul. He pledged to:
- Strengthen security protocols.
- Cooperate fully with authorities.
- Rebuild customer trust through transparency.
The company has already reported the incident to the Personal Information Protection Commission, the police, and the Korea Internet and Security Agency.
Risks for Customers
- Phishing attacks: Fraudulent emails or texts pretending to be Coupang.
- Impersonation scams: Using leaked addresses and phone numbers to trick victims.
- Social engineering: Exploiting personal details to gain further access.
Customers are advised to remain vigilant, update passwords, and monitor accounts for suspicious activity.
Broader Implications
This breach is more than a corporate embarrassment—it’s a national cybersecurity crisis. With South Korea’s population at 51.7 million, nearly two-thirds of citizens were affected. The incident underscores:
- The vulnerability of even the most dominant tech firms.
- The need for stricter government oversight.
- Rising risks in a hyper-connected economy where convenience often trumps caution.
Other major firms, like SK Telecom, have also faced penalties for data protection failures, suggesting systemic weaknesses in South Korea’s digital infrastructure.
In Short
Coupang’s apology is a necessary first step, but actions will speak louder than words. In a digital economy where consumer trust is everything, companies must recognize that data protection is not optional—it’s the foundation of their business.
Coupang has two big problems to solve.
- Technical – closing security loopholes and preventing future breaches.
- Reputational – convincing millions of customers that their trust is worth keeping.
Source: Times Of India
