U.S. and South Korea Clash Over Intelligence Leak and Coupang Probe

The United States and South Korea are navigating a diplomatic rift involving allegations of intelligence leaks and discriminatory regulatory actions. Tensions escalated after the U.S. partially restricted the sharing of satellite intelligence with Seoul, claiming Unification Minister Chung Dong-young leaked classified information regarding a North Korean uranium-enrichment facility in Kusong. President Lee Jae Myung and Minister Chung have denied these claims, asserting the information was derived from open-source reports.

Simultaneously, a regulatory dispute over Coupang Inc. has spilled into security negotiations. South Korean authorities are investigating the e-commerce giant following a November 2025 data breach affecting over 30 million users. Fifty-four U.S. Republican lawmakers, led by the Republican Study Committee, accused Seoul of using the probe as a pretext for a "whole-of-government assault" on American firms. Reports indicate the U.S. government conditioned the activation of high-level security channels—including talks on nuclear-powered submarines—on guarantees that Coupang CEO Bom Kim would not face arrest or a travel ban.

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected allegations of discrimination, stating the investigation follows domestic law and due process. While National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac acknowledged that the Coupang matter has delayed some negotiations, he emphasized that the alliance remains stable. In Washington, Vice Foreign Minister Jeong Yeon-doo met with U.S. officials to discuss the normalization of intelligence sharing and coordinate the resolution of these differing perceptions.