Civic groups and labor organizations in South Korea have united to call for an apology from Coupang's chairman Kim Beom-seok amidst concerns over a significant data breach that reportedly has affected over 33 million accounts. The joint action group, which includes 135 organizations such as Participatory Democracy and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, criticized the potential impact of the breach on consumers and accused Coupang of inadequately addressing the severity of the situation. They assert that if the leaked personal information falls into the hands of cybercriminals or foreign e-commerce companies, the repercussions could be immeasurable.

The groups have also raised concerns over Coupang's lobbying efforts in the United States, especially as the U.S. House of Representatives is set to demand the presence of Coupang's interim representative, Harold Rogers, for hearings. They criticized both the U.S. political response, which they feel favors Coupang without thorough investigation, and Coupang's attempt to turn a serious corporate scandal into a diplomatic issue. The groups have urged Kim Beom-seok to halt all lobbying efforts and provide a proper apology and compensation to affected consumers in South Korea.

Additionally, a coalition named the 'Coalition for the Enactment of Collective Laws for Consumer Protection' has joined in condemning Coupang's actions, advocating for the immediate establishment of collective lawsuit laws and punitive damages to hold corporations accountable for data breaches. They emphasize the urgent need for legal reform to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents, highlighting that both the current and previous administrations have indicated a willingness to introduce these legal measures, urging swift action from the government and the National Assembly before the end of March next year.