Post by : Rameen Ariff

South Korean authorities have raided the headquarters of e-commerce giant Coupang in Seoul following a massive data leak that reportedly affected almost two-thirds of the country’s population. The operation, which took place on Tuesday, marks a significant escalation in the government’s response to one of South Korea’s largest cybersecurity incidents this year.

Coupang, South Korea most popular online shopping platform, is known for its fast deliveries of products ranging from groceries to electronics. However, the company confirmed earlier this year that the personal data of 33.7 million customers had been exposed. The leaked information included names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses, and some order histories. The company stressed that payment details and login credentials were not compromised.

Police in Seoul described the raid as a “necessary measure” to investigate the leak. Seventeen officers from the metropolitan police’s cyber investigation unit were deployed to Coupang’s Seoul headquarters to collect evidence and ensure a thorough investigation. Authorities have vowed to examine all leads and hold those responsible accountable.

The breach, which occurred through Coupang’s overseas servers between June 24 and November 8, was only discovered last month when the company filed a complaint against the alleged perpetrator, identified as a former employee and a Chinese national. The suspect is still at large.

President Lee Jae Myung has called for swift action to penalise those responsible for the massive breach. South Korea’s presidential office has demanded that Coupang outline clear measures for compensating users whose data has been stolen. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said the company must present a detailed plan for taking responsibility in the event of damages.

The incident has drawn international attention as Coupang now faces a class-action lawsuit in the United States, where its global headquarters are located. The case has sparked concerns over cybersecurity in one of the world’s most digitally connected countries, which has previously faced high-profile attacks.

The breach follows a major cyberattack at South Korea’s largest mobile carrier, SK Telecom, which was fined 134 billion won (US$91 million) in August after hackers exposed the personal data of nearly 27 million users. South Korea has also been targeted by North Korean hackers, who were linked to the theft of sensitive financial data from the national court system over a two-year period. Authorities also suspect North Korean cyber groups were behind the recent attack on cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, which resulted in unauthorized withdrawals of 44.5 billion won in digital assets.

As the investigation continues, South Korean authorities are emphasizing that companies handling vast amounts of personal data must strengthen security measures and be held accountable for lapses. The Coupang case is expected to set a precedent for stricter enforcement of cybersecurity laws in the country.

#Global News