Coupang CEO resigns after online retailer hit by massive data breach

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Mr Harold Rogers, the chief administrative officer of Coupang's parent company in the US, will take over from Mr Park Dae-jun (above) as interim chief.

Mr Harold Rogers, the chief administrative officer of Coupang's parent company in the US, will take over from Mr Park Dae-jun (above) as interim chief.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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- South Korea’s biggest online retailer Coupang said on Dec 10 that chief executive officer Park Dae-jun has resigned, taking responsibility for a huge data breach at the company that has triggered a growing backlash in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Coupang “deeply apologises for causing concerns to the public”, the company said in a statement, adding that it will work to restore customer trust and tighten security measures to prevent another data leak.

The company said Mr Harold Rogers, the chief administrative officer of its parent company in the United States, will take over as interim chief executive.

The retail giant

suffered one of South Korea’s worst data breaches

, with personal data of more than 33 million customers leaked in a breach believed to have started in June.

Coupang, which is backed by Japan’s SoftBank Group, has said the breach exposed customers’ names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses and certain order histories, but not payment details or login credentials.

Mr Park’s resignation was announced after South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said earlier on Dec 10 that the government will launch a thorough investigation and take stern action against any legal violations committed by the company.

Earlier this week,

South Korean police launched a raid on the company’s office

in Seoul as part of an investigation. REUTERS

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