WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Judiciary Committee questioned Coupang Korea's interim CEO Harold Rogers for seven hours on allegations that the South Korean government discriminated against the American e-commerce company.
Rogers entered the closed-door hearing at the House Judiciary Committee chamber in Washington D.C. on Wednesday at 9:40 a.m., 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled 10 a.m. start time. He was accompanied by several individuals who appeared to be security personnel. Rogers declined to answer reporters' questions about what he would discuss or whether he had any message for Korean consumers.
The committee had previously requested Coupang submit six years of communications with Korean government agencies, including the Fair Trade Commission and the National Intelligence Service. The lengthy questioning suggests lawmakers focused intensively on whether Seoul took discriminatory actions against the company.
Rogers ate a delivered lunch and continued testimony through the afternoon, leaving at approximately 5 p.m. Congressional staffers and legal representatives led the questioning of Rogers and other Coupang officials.
A Judiciary Committee spokesperson told Korean reporters outside the hearing room that the investigation aims to identify discriminatory measures against American companies. Asked whether the probe could lead to public hearings or legislation, the spokesperson said "all options are open." The spokesperson gave the same answer regarding potential subpoenas for other companies.
The committee had earlier issued a statement saying: "Foreign governments are targeting innovative American companies. We've seen this in Europe, and now we're seeing Korea sanction Coupang to benefit domestic competitors. Congress must investigate these allegations to prevent discriminatory law enforcement and protect American interests."
Robert Porter, Coupang's chief global affairs officer, released a statement following the hearing.
"Mr. Rogers met with bipartisan members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee regarding their investigation into the Korean government's treatment of American companies," Porter said. "We regret the situation in Korea that led to today's congressional testimony. We will continue working toward a constructive resolution."
Porter added that Coupang seeks to serve as "a bridge between the United States and Korea to improve bilateral economic relations, strengthen the security alliance, and promote trade and investment that benefits both countries."
The hearing draws attention to potential implications for a Section 301 investigation into South Korea. Last month, Coupang's U.S. investors, including Greenoaks and Altimeter, filed a petition requesting the U.S. Trade Representative investigate Korea under Section 301 of the Trade Act, alleging discriminatory treatment.
USTR can initiate investigations based on industry petitions or its own judgment when it determines a country engages in unfair trade practices. If consultations fail to resolve concerns, USTR may impose tariffs or other measures.
USTR chief Jamieson Greer signaled in a statement following the Supreme Court's ruling on reciprocal tariffs that the agency would address "discrimination against U.S. technology companies and digital goods and services, as well as digital services taxes, targeting major trading partners."
