Foreign Ministry: "Security Talks with U.S. Separate from Coupang Issue... Continued Consultations Underway"

by Lee Hanna

Published 22 Apr.2026 16:55(KST)

Updated 23 Apr.2026 07:00(KST)

"Coupang Investigation Will Proceed According to Domestic Legal Procedures"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on April 22 that, in response to reports that the United States had asked the South Korean government to guarantee the personal safety of Bom Suk Kim, Chairman of Coupang Inc., "The government's basic position has been clearly communicated to the U.S. side during discussions, which is that security talks must proceed independently from the Coupang issue."

Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry added, "The government will continue to consult closely with the U.S. side to ensure that the current issue involving Coupang does not negatively impact security discussions between South Korea and the United States." This is interpreted as an implicit acknowledgment that the U.S. did request personal safety guarantees for Chairman Kim.

The Ministry also stated, "The ongoing investigation into Coupang will be handled in accordance with domestic laws and due process."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further noted, "Both South Korea and the United States are communicating closely through various channels to implement agreements in the security sector of the Joint Fact Sheet (JFS)."

Previously, there were reports that the U.S. side had requested the South Korean government to guarantee that Chairman Kim would not be subject to exit bans, arrest, or detention. According to SBS, the U.S. side also indicated that, if the matter is not resolved, it would not proceed with high-level diplomatic and security consultations with South Korea.

Currently, the police have requested the Ministry of Justice to be notified if Chairman Kim enters South Korea, due to allegations such as the leakage of personal information.

Meanwhile, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is expected to reach a decision by next month on whether to designate Chairman Bom Suk Kim as the de facto owner (controlling shareholder) of Coupang. Chairman Kim has previously been excluded from such designation due to his foreign nationality.