Why did FTC chief Ju Biung-ghi say he will restore justice in the Coupang probe?

He said the court’s ruling in favor of the public interest allowed the FTC to move ahead again. Ju said the decision protected the rights of the economically vulnerable and hundreds of thousands of small merchants.

What happened in the court battle over the FTC’s Coupang inspection?

The court first granted a temporary suspension of the FTC’s on-site inspection, but later rejected Coupang’s request to stop the probe. That ruling cleared the way for the watchdog to resume its stalled investigation.

What did Coupang say after the court rejected its bid to halt the probe?

Coupang said it filed a further appeal on Monday. The company said it was seeking a Supreme Court ruling on the investigation procedures prescribed by law and on its procedural rights.

FTC chief vows to 'restore justice' as court clears way for Coupang probe

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Summary

FTC chief Ju Biung-ghi said Tuesday he will work to restore justice after a local court cleared the way for the agency to resume its stalled probe into Coupang in a CBS radio interview. The court had first suspended the on-site inspection, then rejected Coupang’s request to stop the probe last week. Coupang filed a further appeal on Monday, seeking a Supreme Court ruling on the investigation procedures and its procedural rights.

Key Facts

Last month, Coupang refused to cooperate with the FTC’s on-site probe over allegations that it shifted discount costs onto suppliers.
The court initially granted a temporary suspension of the FTC inspection before later rejecting Coupang’s request to halt the probe last week.
Coupang said it filed a further appeal seeking a Supreme Court ruling on the investigation procedures prescribed by law and its procedural rights.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 29, 2026 10:06 am KST
Updated Sep 29, 2026 4:30 pm KST

Ju Biung-ghi, head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), enters a press briefing room at Government Complex Sejong, Sept. 21. Yonhap

The chief of Korea's antitrust watchdog said Tuesday he will work to "restore justice" after a local court recently cleared the way for the agency to resume its stalled probe into U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang Inc.

Ju Biung-ghi, head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), made the remarks during an interview with local radio broadcaster CBS, signaling the agency's intention to resume its investigation.

Last month, Coupang refused to cooperate with the watchdog's on-site probe into allegations the company had shifted the costs of discounts onto its suppliers and asked a court to suspend the inspection.

The court initially granted a temporary suspension of the FTC's on-site inspection but eventually rejected Coupang's request to halt the probe last week.

"(Coupang) deals with various vendors, and the company could be subject to regulatory action if it has imposed unfavorable terms on them," Ju said.

"It is a relief the judge handling the case ruled in favor of the public interest, including the rights of the economically vulnerable and hundreds of thousands of small merchants," he added. "We will continue to make efforts to restore justice undermined by the stalled probe into Coupang."

At a press conference this month, Ju described the court's disruption of the FTC's investigation as "regrettable."

Meanwhile, Coupang filed a further appeal against the court's decision on Monday, legal sources said.

"We have filed a further appeal seeking a Supreme Court ruling on the investigation procedures prescribed by law and the company's procedural rights," Coupang said in a text message to Yonhap News Agency.

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