On the 15th, according to Coupang payment details from KB, Shinhan, and Hana Card secured by Rep. Cha Gyu-geun of the Rebuilding Korea Party through the Financial Supervisory Service, Coupang's average daily sales decreased by about 7% due to consumers abandoning the platform following the personal information leak incident. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Recently, under the Lee Jae-myung administration, not only the government but also the National Assembly, labor unions, various religious organizations, and media outlets have launched an all-out offensive to kill Coupang. I don't understand what grave crime Coupang has committed to be attacked and torn apart like hyenas.

At first, they pretended to care about the health of delivery drivers and clamored for Coupang's dawn delivery to be abolished. Then, suddenly, they started making a fuss about Coupang leaking tens of millions of personal information records. However, when investigated, the personal information leaks were around 3,000 cases. It is said that the leakage was even blocked by apprehending Chinese criminals.

Since when have politicians and the media in this country cared so much about the leakage of citizens' personal information? The South Korean government and media have never batted an eye even when the personal information of tens of thousands of North Korean defectors has been leaked. Personal information leaks from telecommunication companies like LG Uplus, KT, and SK have continued, but no one has taken issue with them.

First Dawn Delivery, Then Personal Information Leaks… Finding Fault with Coupang

And since when has the National Assembly and the government of South Korea been so concerned about the health of delivery drivers? If the delivery drivers themselves find dawn delivery to be good, why are others clinging to the dawn delivery issue?

If dawn delivery is difficult and the profits are not as expected, the delivery drivers themselves can quit. If everyone stops doing dawn delivery, the profession of dawn delivery will automatically disappear. This is the principle of a market economy. Korea is not a country like North Korea that forcibly makes people do jobs they don't want to do.

The entire nation loves Coupang's dawn delivery. Delivery drivers also say they prefer the quiet dawn over dealing with congested traffic during the day.

And do they even know how convenient it is for hundreds of thousands of self-employed restaurant owners to do business without having to wake up early and rush to the market thanks to Coupang's dawn delivery?

Let's be honest. How much more convenient has life become for citizens thanks to Coupang these days? In fact, what Coupang is doing now is a revolution in wholesale and retail services that is supported by countless producers and all consumers.

Yet, why are the government, media, labor unions, and even religious organizations, which should be actively encouraging this, gnashing their teeth and moving to kill Coupang? Of course, Coupang is also doing something new, so there will be flaws. If there are flaws, wouldn't it be more normal for the government to help Coupang, which the public likes, to operate better, rather than trying to destroy it?

A Reasonable Suspicion That They Intend to Hand Over Coupang's Position to Chinese Companies

Is there another hidden agenda? Chinese companies like 'Temu' and 'Ali' have been eyeing the Korean market for some time. Is there an intention to kill Coupang and hand over its position to Chinese companies? If not, there is no reason to be so stubbornly persistent.

The recent surge in large logistics warehouse fires, followed by the nonsensical issue of dawn delivery under the guise of workers' health, is also highly suspicious.

Also, the act of exaggerating the personal information leakage at Coupang by more than 1,000 times and fanning public anger and opinion as if a major disaster had occurred is also highly suspicious.

It is truly ironic that the current government, composed of a string of lawbreakers from the President to the Prime Minister and ministers, is suddenly launching an offensive to kill Coupang as if it were about to engage in an all-out war against criminals.

The Lee Jae-myung administration, which claims to be eradicating fake news, is instead creating fake news and trying to kill a company that the public likes. The National Assembly and the government should first reveal the intention behind this.

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor to the Hankook Ilbo and Korea Times, former representative of the North Korean trading company in the Czech Republic. In Korea, he has worked as the vice president of the North Korean Society Research Institute, providing in-depth insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.