Lee pushes back on anti-China sentiment tied to Coupang data leak

President Lee Jae Myung speaks with reporters during a luncheon meeting with the press at a hotel in Shanghai, while on a state visit to China, Wednesday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung pushed back against anti-China sentiment stemming from allegations that a Chinese employee at Coupang stole customer data, warning that hate-driven rhetoric risks deepening unnecessary divisions.

During a luncheon meeting with the press in Shanghai, Lee responded to a question about rising public hostility toward China following reports that the prime suspect in the Coupang data leak case was Chinese.

He said: "The prime suspect is Chinese. So what?"

He cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions based on nationality, calling such logic flawed and dangerous.

"If the suspect were Japanese, would people suddenly start hating Japanese people? If there were Americans working at Coupang, would we then be told to hate the United States?" Lee said.

Lee rejected allegations of Chinese interference in Korea’s elections as well, warning that the claims fuel hostility without evidence and undermine public trust.

There have been rumors, especially among far-right groups, that China has interfered in elections here — a rumor which former President Yoon Suk Yeol cited as one of the reasons for his martial law imposition in December 2024.

He stressed that Korea must remain vigilant against what he called baseless and unnecessary hate incitement, adding that strict measures were clearly warranted.

"Groundless allegations and hate-mongering are harmful and unnecessary," he said, noting that his administration has repeatedly raised the issue at Cabinet meetings and imposed firm sanctions on what it deems as clear falsehoods or inciting behavior.