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Coupang issue is affecting Korea-U.S. security consultations, says Seoul’s top security adviser

Published: 24 Apr. 2026, 12:01 Updated: 26 Apr. 2026, 16:59

SARAH KIM
[email protected]

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac gives a press conference on the results of President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Vietnam at a hotel in Hanoi on April 23. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

HANOI — National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said that U.S. claims of discriminatory regulations against e-commerce giant Coupang, expressed in a protest letter sent by U.S. lawmakers earlier this week, are "affecting Korea-U.S. security consultations."

"While it is largely a corporate issue rather than one that should be escalated into a bilateral government dispute, it is a fact that the current situation shows the Coupang problem is impacting security consultations between South Korea and the United States," Wi told reporters at a press conference in Hanoi on Thursday during President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to Vietnam.

On Monday, a group of 54 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to the Korean ambassador to the United States, Kang Kyung-wha, urging Seoul to halt what they describe as a "targeted assault" on U.S. companies through discriminatory regulations and other excessive measures. They cited Coupang after the U.S.-listed company faced scrutiny in Korea over its massive data leak of some 30 million customers' personal information last November, which the letter described as a "low-sensitivity" incident. Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebutted by saying that Seoul is fully implementing its pledge not to discriminate against U.S. digital companies.

"I have closely reviewed the letters sent by the lawmakers, and I am making efforts to contact them to provide explanations and encourage understanding," Wi said, partially acknowledging that the Coupang issue is impacting security consultations between the allies.

"Our government's position is that the Coupang issue must proceed according to legal procedures, while security negotiations advance separately," Wi said. "Consequently, it is true that security consultations are being delayed, and because this does not benefit the overall alliance, we must not allow further delays."

He said there were U.S. lawmakers who had sent letters before, and he had previously explained the situation to all of them. He said he plans to "continue to make such efforts in the future."

Wi also acknowledged during the press conference that there may be a difference in positions between South Korea and the United States regarding the recent controversy over Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's mention of the Kusong facility, an allegedly publicly unknown uranium enrichment site in North Korea.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-yong attends a hearing of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee in Yeouido, western Seoul, on April 15. [NEWS1]

During a parliamentary session last month, Chung identified North Korea's Kusong, along with Yongbyon and Kangson, as sites housing uranium enrichment facilities for North Korea's nuclear weapons program, which has been criticized as a disclosure of classified information shared by Washington. Consequently, the United States partially limited South Korea's access to satellite-collected intelligence on North Korea-related technology. Chung has rejected allegations of leaking classified information, claiming his remarks were based on publicly available information.

"Our government's position is that what Minister Chung said did not constitute a leak of information received from the United States and that claims and discussions based on such a premise are incorrect," Wi said, responding to a reporter's question on the controversy, while noting that the "United States seems to believe that the information they provided was leaked."

Wi acknowledged that the nuclear facility in question is "originally a South Korea-U.S. joint secret," and that it could cause a "major issue if Minister Chung had heard this joint secret and made his remarks based on it."

However, Wi noted, "Minister Chung consistently claims that he never received such an information briefing and made those remarks based on what he heard from an open source."

Regarding the nuclear facility leak issue, President Lee also stated on his X account on Monday during his state visit to India, that "all claims and actions based on the premise that 'secrets provided by the U.S. were leaked' are wrong."

Wi also addressed the issue of the timeline of the transfer of wartime operational control, or Opcon, to South Korea.

Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), said Seoul and Washington aim to meet conditions required for the envisioned Opcon transfer no later than the first quarter of 2029.

"While it appears Gen. Brunson expressed his opinion as a military commander, this is a matter to be handled between the diplomatic and defense authorities of South Korea and the United States," Wi said.

"Our position desiring an early transfer has been fully conveyed," Wi added. "We will do our utmost for the Opcon transfer to happen as soon as possible, while not leaving any vacuum in military matters nor damaging the cooperation system between South Korea and the United States."

Wi, in turn, downplayed speculation that South Korea-U.S. relations face a crisis, stressing that "because the Korea-U.S. relationship is an alliance and very close, various pending issues arise."

Wi noted that "there may be differing opinions, so we must coordinate well."

"An alliance is a very close relationship, but it must be managed carefully, just like a garden," Wi said. "We are currently in that process."

Regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's nomination of Michelle Park Steel, a former Republican lawmaker from California, as the U.S. ambassador to Seoul, Wi said, "I know her personally well," citing her long connections through diplomatic lines.

"Some reports portray her as somewhat excessively far-right, but that is not the case. I expect that if she comes as ambassador, she will play a positive role in resolving Korea-U.S. relations."

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]