\n<\/p>\n
South Korean authorities have imposed a record-breaking fine of $624 billion won (over $400 million) on retail giant Coupang after a data breach last year compromised the personal data of more than 34 million customers.<\/p>\n
Seoul\u2019s Personal Information Protection Commission issued the maximum penalty on Thursday following discovery of the breach in December 2025<\/a>. The retail giant, which is headquartered in the U.S. but popular in South Korea and likened to the \u201cAmazon of Asia,\u201d had said the months-long data breach allowed a former employee to obtain names, email and shipping addresses, phone numbers and order histories of about two-thirds of South Korea\u2019s population.<\/p>\n Coupang told BBC News<\/a> that it plans to challenge the regulator\u2019s decision. The fine represents a rare case of a financial penalty issued against a U.S.-based firm. Korean lawmakers have accused<\/a> some of their American counterparts of imposing political pressure after reports that U.S. representatives were linking the data breach with U.S.-South Korean bilateral ties in response to the case against Coupang\u2019s executives.<\/p>\n U.S. companies rarely face financial sanctions or criminal prosecution for data breaches as a result of lacking laws and enforcement powers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n