[News Today] FTC conducts onsite probe at Coupang

[LEAD]
The Fair Trade Commission launched a sweeping onsite inspection of Coupang as it reviews the possibility of a business suspension. Investigators are closely examining whether founder Kim Bom-suk improperly avoided being designated as a conglomerate head.

[REPORT]
Coupang headquarters in Seoul's Songpa-gu District.

Some 30 inspectors from the Fair Trade Commission began an onsite inspection from Tuesday.

They are from three countries and roughly three times the usual number. They are expected to look into all allegations highlighted in the parliamentary hearing.

This is the second onsite probe conducted by the FTC since the data breach.

The key question is whether Kim Bom-suk, chair of Coupang Inc., avoided designation as a conglomerate head to sidestep regulation.

Kim has been excluded from designation by the FTC for reasons such as having no relatives involved in management. But allegations have surfaced that his younger brother receives executive-level treatment at Coupang.

Kim Young-bae / Democratic Party (Dec. 30, 2025)
Vice president Kim Yu-seok's salary last year amounts to KRW 3 bn including restricted stock units.

Also under investigation are allegations that sellers were forced into certain sales practices to boost profits and that subsidiaries received unfair support.

Kim Hong-min / Head of Korea e-commerce operators assoc. (Dec. 31, 2025)
Coupang shamelessly calls us their private brand. It also funnels work to subsidiaries for their benefit.

Earlier, FTC chair Ju Biung-ghi said if Coupang fails to properly implement orders down the road, its business suspension will be considered.

Meanwhile, Coupang's interim CEO Harold Rogers is known to have left Korea after failing to comply with police summons on the heels of last month's data breach hearing.

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