Korean American activist warns Seoul against escalating Coupang row
A Korean American civic activist urged Seoul on Wednesday to avoid escalating its dispute with Coupang and quietly seek a resolution, warning that turning a corporate controversy into a bilateral confrontation with Washington could ultimately undermine South Korea’s national interests. “Regarding Coupang disputes with the United States, a corporate dispute has escalated into an inter-state conflict. The more South Korea stirs this up, the worse its position becomes — especially with an administration driven by an 'America First' agenda focused on protecting U.S. interests,” said Kim Dong-suk, executive committee chair of the Korean American Grassroots Conference (KAGC), during “The midterm election in the U.S. and the Korean Peninsula in 2026” forum hosted by the Kwanhun Club. “For the sake of the South Korean national interest, this needs to be buried as quickly as possible.” He argued that many U.S. lawmakers weighing in on the Coupang controversy have only a limited understanding of the company and are often influenced by lobbying efforts that portray American compani
