[25.12.10] Coupang Exposed for Operating ‘Secret Lobby Office’ in Gangnam; Government Launches Full Investigation

Coupang Exposed for Operating ‘Secret Lobby Office’ in Gangnam; Government Launches Full Investigation

📍A covert office near Gangnam Station where Coupang’s core lobbying personnel worked without external signage has been revealed, prompting expanded scrutiny from the presidential office.

It has been confirmed that Coupang operated an undisclosed lobbying office separate from its Jamsil headquarters, intensifying controversy amid allegations of massive data leaks and pressure on investigative authorities. The office, hidden from building directories and public view, reportedly housed high-level government relations personnel.

It has been confirmed that Coupang operated a separate recruitment organization in a building near Gangnam Station without external exposure, distinct from its Jamsil headquarters, and the Coupang CEO has resigned.

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🔹 Secret Gangnam Office Revealed
Coupang maintained a concealed office on the ninth floor of a building near Gangnam Station, where senior executives handling government, presidential office, and regulatory affairs were based. Despite its significance, no signage or identification related to Coupang existed inside or outside the building.

Testimony indicates that Coupang specifically requested minimal external exposure upon moving in, raising concerns that the office was intended to avoid scrutiny or investigative oversight. The office location is not even searchable within Coupang’s internal system, making it difficult for ordinary employees to know of its existence.

🔹Concentrated Lobby Personnel
The space is officially labeled the “Social Contribution Committee,” but internally it functions as Coupang’s primary government relations organization. Over 40 staff members, many recruited from government agencies and political circles, were stationed here to manage regulatory and media responses.

🔹Overlap With Data Breach Timeline
Coupang reportedly moved into the Gangnam office in June, coinciding with the start of the massive personal data breach estimated to have begun around June 24. At the same time, allegations surfaced that Coupang exerted pressure on prosecutors during the company’s severance pay investigation. This timing has fueled suspicions that the office served as a control tower for lobbying and crisis management.

🔹Suspicions of Avoiding Investigation
Political observers suggest the hidden structure may have been intended to keep the site off investigators’ radar. When police conducted a major raid on Coupang’s headquarters on the 9th, the Gangnam office was notably absent from the search locations.

🔹Presidential Office Orders Inspection
Chief Presidential Secretary Kang Hoon-sik ordered a broad review of companies that may undermine fair competition, referencing Coupang’s concentrated hiring of former officials from key government bodies. The presidential office believes Coupang may have mobilized its lobbying network to downplay and redirect responsibility for the data leak.

🔹CEO Resigns
Coupang CEO Park Dae-joon resigned on the 10th, taking responsibility for the data breach affecting 33.7 million users. Coupang Inc. executive Harold Rogers was appointed interim CEO to oversee recovery and stabilization efforts.

One-line summary : Coupang was found to have operated a covert lobbying office near Gangnam Station, prompting a full government investigation amid escalating data-leak and influence-peddling allegations.