Government Replies to 54 U.S. Lawmakers' "Coupang Letter": "Proceeding Non-Discriminatorily Under Domestic Law"

Reply Sent Under the Name of Ambassador Kang Kyungwha

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 6 that Ambassador Kang Kyungwha had sent a reply on behalf of the Korean Embassy in the United States to Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives who had previously sent a joint letter regarding alleged discrimination against American companies, including Coupang.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. Photo by Yonhap News

The Ministry explained, "In our response, the government once again clarified that actions taken by the Korean government regarding the Coupang investigation and other related matters are being conducted in a non-discriminatory and fair manner in accordance with relevant domestic laws and regulations."

The Ministry added, "Going forward, the government will continue to maintain a non-discriminatory policy toward American digital companies, including Coupang, and will keep the U.S. Congress informed about the relevant developments."

Previously, Ambassador Kang received a joint letter from 54 lawmakers belonging to the Republican Study Committee (RSC) of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging the Korean government to halt what they described as discriminatory regulations against Coupang and other American companies. It has also been reported that several other U.S. congressional offices have sent similar letters in the past.

There have been concerns that the issue involving Coupang could impact security-related consultations between South Korea and the United States that are taking place after the release of the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains the position that the investigation and measures regarding Coupang are being handled according to Korean domestic law and due process, and that defense and security issues should be addressed separately.

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