South Korea Investigates Coupang Over U.S. Tax Link

South Korean authorities are investigating e-commerce leader Coupang over financial transactions linked to its U.S. headquarters, according to a report. The probe follows a recent, massive data breach at the company. The investigation, reported by local media, focuses on whether transactions between Coupang's Korean operations and its U.S. parent company complied with tax and foreign exchange laws. Officials are examining if proper taxes were paid on funds sent abroad. This scrutiny comes just weeks after Coupang disclosed a major security failure. In March, the company admitted personal data from 33.7 million customers—nearly two-thirds of South Korea's population—was compromised due to an internal error. Coupang, often called "Korea's Amazon," has not publicly commented on the reported investigation. The company previously stated the data leak did not include financial information, but exposed names and addresses. Analysts say the dual issues of a national data breach and a financial probe present a significant challenge. They threaten to damage consumer trust in the country's dominant online retailer.