Korean Commerce Minister Yeo Han-koo, proper, shakes arms with Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) as they meet for talks on the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 12. Courtesy of trade ministry
WASHINGTON — A U.S. lawmaker mentioned Monday that there are “penalties” for state-sponsored “hostile actions” towards American firms after he met with Korea’s Commerce Minister Yeo Han-koo amid intense scrutiny of e-commerce big Coupang Inc. in Seoul over a large knowledge leak.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) made the remarks in a social media publish following the assembly with Yeo, who was in Washington as a part of efforts to handle U.S. considerations over Korea’s regulatory efforts about on-line platforms, in addition to the information leak incident surrounding Coupang, a U.S.-listed agency.
“My backside line: There are penalties for state-sponsored hostile actions in direction of American firms and Americans,” Issa wrote on X, apparently suggesting that U.S. tech companies are unfairly handled in Korea.
Issa additionally mentioned that in a “good” dialogue with Yeo, he made clear that the “unjustified focusing on of American expertise firms and unfair therapy of Coupang by the Lee administration are usually not acceptable, particularly from a pal of 70 years.”
“Korea is an important ally, however I’ll work with my colleagues in Congress and the Trump Administration to make sure that U.S. firms are usually not mistreated, that American exporters have entry to international markets, and that nations like Korea maintain the commitments they’ve made in current commerce and funding agreements,” the lawmaker mentioned.
Yeo arrived in Washington after the State Division expressed “important considerations” final month over a not too long ago handed revision to the Info and Communications Community Act aimed toward tackling false and fabricated on-line info, which critics say might have an effect on U.S. on-line firms.
His journey additionally got here as Coupang has been underneath public scrutiny and criticism in Korea following revelations that about 33 million buyer accounts have been accessed within the knowledge leak case, together with names, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and different particulars.
In a separate publish, Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) mentioned that he was “appalled” on the Korean authorities’s actions to name for prison prices towards U.S. executives of Coupang, arguing that the transfer is predicated on a “politically motivated witch hunt.”
“The US authorities will proceed to pursue measures to carry the Korean authorities accountable for his or her disturbing therapy of American firms,” he mentioned.
