SEOUL — E-commerce giant Coupang has officially begun distributing compensation to 33.7 million users affected by a recent massive data leak. Starting Thursday morning, the company initiated the sequential issuance of 50,000 won (approx. $38) in shopping vouchers per person.
A Diverse but Divided Coupon Pack The compensation package is not a single lump sum but a bundle of four specific vouchers:
Coupang Marketplace: 5,000 won
Coupang Eats (Food Delivery): 5,000 won
Coupang Travel: 20,000 won
R.Lux (Luxury Beauty): 20,000 won
To address previous criticism that the vouchers were "useless," Coupang has significantly expanded its inventory of low-priced items. Approximately 140,000 Rocket Delivery products are now priced under 5,000 won, allowing users to purchase items like bottled water or instant noodles for near-zero or zero won.
Terms and Conditions The vouchers are valid until April 15, 2026. Any unused balance will automatically expire and is non-refundable if the purchase price is lower than the voucher value. Former members who deactivated their accounts must sign up again using their previous mobile numbers to claim the benefits.
Backlash from Civic Groups Despite the massive scale of the payout, the move has met with fierce resistance from labor and civic organizations. Groups including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) held a press conference in front of Coupang’s headquarters, labeling the move a "deceptive marketing tactic."
"This is not a sincere apology or compensation for a security failure; it is a business strategy aimed at boosting sales through forced traffic," a spokesperson for the coalition stated. The groups have announced a "refusal movement," urging citizens not to accept the vouchers in protest of the company's handling of the privacy breach.
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