This Time, Congress... Korea-U.S. Security Agreement Stalled for Four Months Amid Coupang Lobbying

Concerns Rise Over U.S. Support for Coupang and a Potential Crisis in the Korea-U.S. Alliance
Experts Say: "The U.S. Is Pursuing a Strategy to Maximize Its Own Interests"

The lobbying battle surrounding the Coupang incident has now extended to the United States Congress. As a result, follow-up measures on security agreements between the leaders of South Korea and the United States—such as nuclear-powered submarines and enrichment and reprocessing—have stalled for four months, with progress at a complete standstill, due to these and other complications.

The United States Capitol building. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 23rd, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the letter sent by U.S. Republican lawmakers demanding an end to "discriminatory regulation against American companies such as Coupang." The official stated, "The investigation and measures regarding Coupang are being carried out in accordance with domestic law and due process," adding, "These procedures are being conducted in a non-discriminatory manner, regardless of nationality." He also emphasized, "The government is faithfully fulfilling its commitment to ensure that American digital companies do not face discriminatory measures or unnecessary barriers, and this includes Coupang." The letter was authored by 54 members of the U.S. House Republican Conference and sent to Ambassador Kang Kyungwha on the 21st (local time).

The government has consistently explained to the U.S. side, through all available channels, its position that the Coupang personal information leak case will be handled without discrimination. Nevertheless, it appears that dissatisfaction within the U.S. administration has yet to subside. The personal circumstances of Bom Kim, Chairman of the Coupang Inc. Board of Directors, have now begun to affect security discussions between South Korea and the United States. While the Presidential Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously drew a line by stating, "Security discussions are separate from the Coupang issue," the American security negotiation team, which was expected to visit South Korea earlier this year, has remained out of contact for four months.

There are also growing concerns about Coupang's all-out lobbying efforts and the developments in the U.S. Congress. Kim Heungkyu, Director of the Center for U.S.-China Policy Studies at Ajou University, criticized the situation, saying, "The attitude of the U.S. seems to treat us more like a subordinate state than an ally," and, "Linking the Coupang incident to security issues and applying pressure is behavior unfit for a sovereign nation." However, Lee Jaemook, Professor of Political Science and Diplomacy at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, cautioned against interpreting the situation as a crisis for the Korea-U.S. alliance. He analyzed, "The United States fully understands the political landscape in Korea and Korean perceptions of the U.S., and is employing various strategies to maximize American interests in these circumstances."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.