Coupang logistics vehicle. Yonhap News

Korea-US-Japan Daily Columnist33.7 million people. Personal information of virtually the entire population of South Korea has been leaked. And it's sensitive information, including names, phone numbers, emails, addresses, and recent order history. A former Chinese employee stole the information over six months, and Coupang was unaware of it the entire time. It is shocking that the security of South Korea's number one e-commerce company was at this level. This is not a simple accident, but a structural collapse.

The reason for the simple signup process on Amazon in the US is not because of lax technology. Companies invest hundreds of billions of won in security because the penalties for personal information leakage are so severe that they could lead to business closure. In contrast, despite installing numerous security programs, including ActiveX, for a long time, South Korea has been plagued by security incidents. This is understandable. Even when an incident occurs, the penalty is only in the 'hundreds of millions of won' range, which is less than a week's public relations budget for a large corporation. In such a structure, why would companies invest properly in security?

The problem doesn't end there. It's the stark double standard shown by the political sphere and some factions depending on the nationality of the crime. When illegal Chinese immigrants commit crimes like voice phishing, drug trafficking, or hacking, there's silence. Instead of criticism, they repeatedly say, "Don't incite xenophobia." However, what if a Japanese person committed the same crime? The government would likely summon the Japanese ambassador to protest, the National Assembly would be in an uproar, and some organizations would hold daily protests in front of the embassy.

Why does everyone go silent when it comes to China?

Why are China-related crimes downplayed with the reason "do not incite nationalism," while Japanese issues are excessively amplified?

Why can't the media even write the word "Chinese" in their article titles?

This is not an 'suppression of anti-China sentiment,' but a silence created by political calculation. The attitude of overly protecting a certain group leads to a loss of public trust and ultimately harms public safety. Crimes should be judged by 'the crime itself,' not by nationality. Whether it's China, Japan, or the US, anyone who does wrong should be criticized equally. This is a fundamental principle of a normal country.

■ The necessary solutions now are clear

First, the Personal Information Protection Act must be strengthened to the level of the United States.

If companies are not punished with hundreds of billions of won for leaking 33.7 million people's information, security investments will not happen. Only severe penalties, to the extent that a company could go bankrupt, can prevent such incidents.

Second, the criteria for disclosing information on foreign national crimes must be completely revised.

'Crime facts + nationality' are basic information, whether it's China, Japan, or the US. Making an exception for only certain countries is not discrimination but political bias.

Third, the national cybersecurity system needs to be reorganized.

The fact that South Korea's number one e-commerce company was unaware of intrusion for six months means that cybersecurity has collapsed for both the private sector and the government. A national security control tower is needed.

Fourth, the political sphere must abandon its double standards.

If security, crime, and economic issues are approached based on nationalistic sentiments or political interests, the damage will be borne entirely by the public.

The Coupang incident is not just a hacking case.

It is a case that has collectively exposed lax regulations, corporate complacency, political double standards, and a backward culture of security.

What is needed now is not an emotional reaction, but practical reforms that change the nation's overall security level. 

South Korea can no longer remain an 'undefended country' for personal information leaks.

Korea-US-Japan Daily Columnist