'Coupang uses US lobbying to frame Korean sanctions as discrimination'

Coupang is using its lobbying network in Washington to portray Korea’s enforcement of domestic laws as discrimination against American businesses, according to a ruling party lawmaker, who said Seoul’s sanctions on the e-commerce firm are based on the firm’s obvious misconduct, not its nationality. "Claims that Korea is discriminating against an American company are not based on the facts, and they are a narrative created by Coupang's lobbying in the United States,” Rep. Min Byoung-dug from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) told The Korea Times during an interview on Thursday. "We must distinguish the position of Washington from the voice Coupang has bought through lobbying." He argued that allegations of anti-U.S. bias distort Korea’s enforcement record and risk turning a domestic competition law dispute into a bilateral trade issue. The second-term lawmaker urged the government to stand firm on the principle that companies operating in Korea must be subject to the same legal standards, regardless of where they are headquartered or listed. His comments offer a contrast