[News Today] Coupang’s suspect contact draws scrutiny

[LEAD]
Now, according to Coupang's explanation you just saw, the company made contact with the suspected data leaker before police did.

But with Coupang's former and current executives also under investigation, the overlap is raising questions about whether it was appropriate for the company to make contact ahead of authorities.

[REPORT]
A Chinese national is found to have leaked personal data.

This individual reportedly quit Coupang before leaving the country and is now staying overseas.

It's not easy to investigate as the person is a foreigner living abroad.

Even if the relevant person's identity and whereabouts are confirmed, unless the person enters Korea voluntarily,

full investigation can take place only after forced repatriation with the cooperation of the country where the person is staying.

Park Jeong-hun / Science and Broadcasting Committee (PPP, Dec. 17)
Are you talking with China about finding out the suspect's whereabouts?
How is it going?

Bae Kyung-hoon / Deputy PM and Science Minister
It's under police investigation.

Despite the situation, Coupang made contact with the key suspect ahead of the authorities.

Although Coupang hasn't revealed how the contact was made, it is very likely that they had face-to-face interactions for a considerable period.

The problem is that the Coupang management and the company itself are also under investigation.

The police conducted a seven-day raid of the company for violating the Personal Information Protection Act.

Former and sitting executives, including Park Dae-jun and Kim Bom-suk, have been reported as defendants.

It appears that key subjects of the investigation had prior contact with one another.

Kim Kyung-soo / KBS advisory lawyer
Contacting the suspect and finding out about the incident could distort the facts of the case. It was an inappropriate, wrongful act.

Coupang stated that they have commissioned three foreign private cyber security firms to conduct probes and analyses.

How they processed the leaked personal data should be looked into as well.

The police maintain that ascertaining the authenticity comes first.

The police added that they're examining whether the statements were actually written by the suspect and whether devices such as laptops were used in the crime.

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