Seoul: An opposition lawmaker said Friday he has sent official letters to U.S. House members explaining that South Korea's regulatory action against Coupang over a massive data breach was not discriminatory against the U.S.-listed company.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Cho Kyung-tae of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) sent the letters to nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives amid growing concerns in the U.S. Congress over South Korea's treatment of Coupang and its broader digital market regulations. Cho's office stated that the letters were prepared to convey accurate facts based on the official findings and regulatory actions of the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), countering claims by some U.S. lawmakers that the South Korean government has unfairly targeted Coupang.

Cho emphasized that the regulatory action against Coupang was based on the same standards applied to domestic companies, refuting allegations of discrimination against the U.S. company. He highlighted a significant discrepancy between the PIPC's finding that the breach affected around 37.55 million people and Coupang's report to the U.S. Congress that only approximately 3,000 accounts were affected.

"The South Korea-U.S. alliance that we have built over 70 years is a far greater and more valuable asset than the interests of a single company," Cho was quoted as saying. He stressed that South Korea's legitimate law enforcement against a single company should not lead to unnecessary misunderstandings concerning bilateral trade, diplomatic relations, or the alliance.

Cho's letters were addressed to Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Michael Baumgartner, and seven other members, as confirmed by his office. Cho serves on the parliamentary science, ICT, broadcasting, and communications committee.