Police currently tracking Coupang data breach suspect using IP address
Coupang's building in Seoul / Yonhap
Police said Monday they are tracking down the suspect behind a massive data breach at e-commerce giant Coupang after securing the Internet Protocol (IP) address that was used.
The breach began in June, leading to the leak of personal information of nearly 34 million customers, such as names, emails, mailing addresses and phone numbers, the company said Saturday.
A former employee, a Chinese national who has since left Korea, has been identified as the perpetrator, it said.
"We are analyzing server logs submitted by Coupang," an official with the Seoul Metropolitan Police told reporters. "We have secured the IP used by the suspect in the crime, and are tracking them down."
The official said the police are also verifying the suspect's nationality, whether they have left the country after quitting the company, and whether they are the same person that sent an email to Coupang threatening to disclose the breach.
Police began an internal investigation into the case last month after the company initially reported a data breach affecting some 4,500 people.
A formal investigation began last week after the company filed a complaint against an unidentified person on charges of intruding into an information and communications network.
The official said the police have yet to receive reports of voice phishing or smishing in connection with the data breach but that they are working together with relevant ministries to prepare against such cases.