Harold Rogers, interim representative of Coupang's Korean subsidiary. [Photo = Yonhap News]

The U.S. Congress directly mentioned the name 'Lee Jae-myung' on the 5th (local time) when issuing a subpoena to Harold Rogers, the interim representative of Coupang's Korean subsidiary, in the name of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. 

According to the subpoena letter from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, it states, "Despite Coupang's close cooperation with the National Intelligence Service for prompt data recovery and agreement on compensation, Korean government authorities, including the Fair Trade Commission, have engaged in discriminatory treatment against Coupang through unfair law enforcement and threats of criminal punishment."

It further stated, "Korean President Lee Jae-myung called for aggressive penalties and hefty fines against Coupang," and also pointed out that "the Fair Trade Commission proposed a temporary suspension of operations for Coupang."

According to the letter, "The Korean government conducted 150 in-person investigations and 200 interviews with 400 investigators dispatched from 11 agencies, requesting the submission of over 1100 pieces of data."

Furthermore, referencing the trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, it criticized, "American companies should not be discriminated against due to laws concerning digital services, including online platform regulations. Nevertheless, the Korean government continues its targeted attacks on American companies."

It added, "The Trump administration will not tolerate foreign governments applying regulations that are more burdensome to American companies than their own, nor will it allow American companies, American workers, the U.S. economy, security, and interests to be undermined by unilateral and anti-competitive policies and practices."

The Judiciary Committee's response comes in the wake of the EU recently impacting seven specific companies with the Digital Markets Act in 2022, six of which were American companies.

Regarding the EU's unfair actions, the U.S. Congress perceived it as having "impacted consumers and small and medium-sized businesses, stifled innovation, and benefited companies with close ties to China."

It further stated, "South Korea has also been targeting American companies for a long time with antitrust laws and digital regulations," and wrote, "The Fair Trade Commission's regulations against American companies are more prominent than those of the EU."

The U.S. Congress plans to summon representative Rogers to the Judiciary Committee on the 23rd (local time) to hear testimony regarding the Korean government's 'targeting of American companies.' 

Reporter Lim Yo-hee