A big banner bearing the identify of Korean e-commerce big Coupang is displayed on the constructing of the New York Inventory Change on Mar. 11, 2021 to mark its debut on the U.S. inventory market. Korea Occasions file
SEATTLE — Coupang could also be heading into a brand new part of authorized stress within the U.S. as buyers start to evaluate the fallout from the huge knowledge breach that uncovered private data linked to greater than 33 million buyer accounts. The breach has already drawn intense scrutiny in Korea and contributed to a decline in Coupang’s share worth.
A New York–primarily based investor rights agency, DJS Legislation Group, has opened an investigation into whether or not Coupang might have made deceptive statements or didn’t disclose data associated to cybersecurity dangers that could possibly be necessary to buyers. Such inquiries are sometimes a precursor to a category motion lawsuit.
“The investigation focuses on whether or not the corporate issued deceptive statements and/or didn’t disclose data pertinent to buyers,” DJS Legislation Group stated in a press release, Tuesday.
U.S. litigation companies generally monitor main knowledge incidents and sharp inventory strikes for indicators that an organization didn’t correctly warn buyers about recognized vulnerabilities. Coupang’s share worth motion following the breach disclosure suggests circumstances that would immediate authorized motion.
Coupang has confronted authorized scrutiny within the U.S. earlier than. A shareholder lawsuit tied to its 2021 IPO was dismissed with prejudice by a federal court docket in September 2025 after the decide discovered that challenged statements weren’t materially deceptive.
A separate whistle-blower retaliation go well with, through which a former worker alleged he was dismissed after elevating compliance considerations, remains to be pending after a decide declined to dismiss the declare earlier this yr.
Authorized observers say further issues may stay confidential till formally filed.
If a brand new lawsuit proceeds, circumstances of this sort typically transfer slowly. Securities class actions can take two to 5 years, and if a settlement is reached, shareholder compensation typically takes greater than a yr to distribute.
DJS Legislation Group didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Korea Occasions.
For now, U.S. authorized exercise stays restricted, however because the breach continues to unfold in Korea, stress from buyers and regulators in the US might more and more demand solutions as nicely.
