Coupang Defends Lobbying Efforts in the U.S. as Legal Activity

Coupang has responded to reports of its lobbying activities in the United States, asserting that these efforts are legal under the U.S. Constitution.

In a statement released on July 16, Coupang expressed disappointment that it has been portrayed as the only company engaging in lobbying, noting that many multinational corporations participate in legal lobbying activities in the U.S.

Coupang cited data from the lobbying tracking site OpenSecrets, which indicated that 15,768 organizations, including global companies, communicated with the U.S. government, the White House, and Congress, either directly or through lobbying firms last year. The company emphasized that it is one of many businesses and organizations operating within legal and established guidelines.

Coupang also stated that its lobbying expenditures are relatively modest compared to other companies. In the first quarter, Coupang's lobbying spending was about $708,000, which is roughly one-tenth of the amounts spent by other tech firms and less than that of major South Korean conglomerates.

The company clarified that its lobbying aims to enhance global exports and stimulate trade investments. Coupang highlighted its commitment to the U.S.-Korea economic partnership, having invested over 6 trillion won in Korea and established more than 100 logistics centers across 30 regions, creating over 90,000 jobs. It is focused on communication related to expanding global business exports, including its services like Taiwan's Rocket Delivery and luxury e-commerce platform Farfetch, which operates in 190 countries.

Previously, on July 15, the U.S. Senate released data under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, revealing that Coupang paid $250,000 (approximately 370 million won) to the lobbying firm Ballard Partners in the second quarter.

The lobbying targets included the White House, the U.S. President's office, the House of Representatives, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Brian Ballard, the head of Ballard Partners, is known for his close ties to President Donald Trump and has been expanding his influence in Washington, D.C., since Trump's re-election campaign.