South Korea says security talks with US should not be linked to Coupang probe (updated)

Coupang

22/04/2026 09:14

South Korea insists security talks with U.S. remain separate from Coupang investigation concerns

U.S. reportedly requested legal guarantees for Coupang Chairman Kim Bom's safety

South Korea aims to prevent Coupang probe from affecting security negotiations with U.S

Adds ministry comments, background on relations from paragraph 3

SEOUL, April 22 (Reuters) - South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that ongoing talks with the U.S. over a security agreement should proceed separately from issues related to an investigation into U.S.-listed e-commerce company Coupang Inc CPNG.N.

The ministry made the comment in response to a media report that Washington has threatened to halt security talks unless Seoul provided legal guarantees for the safety of Coupang's Chairman Kim Bom during a probe into the leaking of customer information at the company.

The security allies have seen a number of disputes in recent months over a range of issues including tariffs, the treatment of U.S. technology companies and intelligence sharing.

Seoul has been in close communication with Washington to implement the security issues agreed in a joint fact sheet signed in
November
, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement to reporters.

The Korean government would continue negotiations with the U.S. to prevent issues at Coupang from having a negative impact on the security discussions, the ministry said.

South Korean broadcaster SBS reported on Tuesday that U.S. negotiators had asked Korea to lift a travel ban and ensure Kim would not face arrest or detention when he visits South Korea.

If Seoul could not guarantee the arrangement, the report said Washington would not proceed with high-level talks on security, including over South Korea's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The dispute over Coupang came as the two allies have recently been at odds over intelligence sharing regarding North Korea's nuclear activities.

Earlier this week, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung
denied
 that his minister in charge of relations with North Korea leaked classified information provided by Washington on the location of Pyongyang's new nuclear facility.

Coupang Korea, operated by U.S.-listed Coupang Inc.,
faced
 a public and lawmaker backlash in South Korea over a data breach that affected more than 30 million customers.

The incident triggered trade friction with officials in Washington raising concerns about whether the company was being unfairly treated during the investigation.

Concerns about security ties had also emerged after media reports in March said Washington was moving some key weapon systems to the Middle East, including parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

The U.S.-made THAAD system is used for high-altitude interception of ballistic missiles and it was deployed in South Korea to guard against nuclear-armed North Korea.

The commander of U.S. Forces in Korea, General Xavier Brunson, told a
Senate committee hearing
 on Tuesday that none of the THAAD systems had been moved out of South Korea.

 (Reporting by Heejin Kim
Editing by Ed Davies)

 ((Heejin.Kim@thomsonreuters.com;))