Coupang to Pay $1.17B in Vouchers to 37.7M Users After Data Leak

TLDR

• Coupang will distribute over $1.17 billion in vouchers to affected customers following a major data breach in South Korea.
• The data breach exposed names, email addresses, home addresses, and order history of 37.7 million users.
• Each user will receive four purchase vouchers worth a total of 50,000 won starting from January 15, 2026.
• Coupang’s interim CEO stated the company is taking responsibility and working to restore customer trust.

South Korea’s leading e-commerce platform Coupang will distribute over $1.17 billion in vouchers to compensate affected customers. The company confirmed the data breach exposed names, home addresses, email accounts, and order history. Coupang emphasized that no payment or login information was accessed during the breach.

Coupang Plans to Distribute Four Vouchers Per Affected Customer

Coupang stated that around 37.7 million former and current customers will receive four separate product vouchers each. The vouchers include 5,000-won credits for Coupang Eats and Rocket Delivery, and two 20,000-won coupons for Allux and Travel. Each affected user will receive a total of 50,000 won, starting January 15, 2026.

The company said customers can apply for these coupons through the Coupang app when making purchases. Coupang explained the initiative aims to regain customer trust following criticism by South Korean watchdogs. The company will release further eligibility details closer to the launch date.

Coupang’s interim CEO, Harold Rogers addressed the breach and the company’s responsibility to customers. “All executives and employees are deeply reflecting on the concern caused to customers,” Rogers said in a statement. Coupang is now focused on accountability and transparent compensation.

Chinese Former Employee Identified as Main Suspect

Authorities in South Korea have identified a 43-year-old Chinese national as the main suspect in the Coupang breach. Investigators revealed the suspect worked at Coupang between November 2022 and 2024 and maintained internal system access. The individual allegedly used a digital coupon key to enter Coupang’s servers.

Investigations revealed the breach began in late June and continued until early November. South Korea’s Seoul National Police Agency is reviewing access logs, IP histories, and system credentials. Coupang confirmed it is cooperating fully with law enforcement.

Vice Minister Ryu Je-myung explained that the attacker exploited Coupang’s internal server system. Coupang stated it had revoked access but did not clarify why the account remained active post-employment. The company also initiated a review of its security protocols.

Coupang Faces Drop in Users as Rivals Gain Traffic

Following the breach, Coupang’s daily active users dropped from 17.99 million to 15.94 million between December 1 and 6. South Korea-based analytics platform Mobile Index tracked this decline. The drop followed a short surge as users rushed to change passwords or delete accounts.

Several users reportedly shifted to rival platforms during this period. Gmarket saw its traffic increase by 5.8% from 1.36 million to 1.43 million. Meanwhile, 11th Street and Naver Plus Store experienced 14.33% and 23.1% increases respectively.

The breach reportedly affected nearly two-thirds of South Korea’s population. Coupang has urged users to avoid clicking on suspicious links or messages. The company warned of phishing attempts impersonating Coupang services.

Coupang requested customers report suspicious texts or calls to its support team. It confirmed multiple phishing incidents after the breach became public. Coupang continues to monitor external threats targeting its users.

Coupang remains under investigation by South Korea’s authorities. The company said it would release updates on eligibility checks through the Coupang app. The compensation will begin in phases starting January 15, 2026.

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