South Korea's rejection of a congressional report alleging discrimination against US-based Coupang is straining bilateral relations between Washington and Seoul.
The South Korean government has dismissed findings from a US congressional report that accused it of orchestrating a targeted campaign against the e-commerce platform. The report alleged systematic discrimination favoring local competitors.
The dismissal has triggered friction between the two allied nations, according to sources familiar with diplomatic discussions. The US Congress report examined whether South Korea's regulatory environment disadvantaged Coupang, which expanded aggressively in the Korean market as a major US investment.
Coupang, founded by Korean-American entrepreneur Bom Kim, became South Korea's dominant e-commerce player. The congressional inquiry focused on whether Seoul's policies unfairly protected domestic rivals or imposed barriers specific to foreign operators.
South Korea's rejection of the report's conclusions contradicts American lawmakers' assessment. The diplomatic tension adds to existing trade and regulatory discussions between the countries, which maintain close economic and security ties.
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