Tax agency launches special audit into Coupang

Dec 23, 2025, 08:45 am

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A view of a Coupang logistics center in Seoul. / Yonhap

South Korea’s National Tax Service has launched a wide-ranging special tax audit into Coupang, deploying a large team to scrutinize the company following a recent personal data breach, with the probe extending to its US headquarters.

According to industry sources on Monday, investigators from the Seoul Regional Tax Office’s Fourth Investigation Bureau and the International Transactions Investigation Bureau were dispatched to Coupang’s Korean headquarters in Songpa, Seoul, as well as offices of Coupang Fulfillment Services (CFS). About 150 investigators were sent to secure accounting records and other materials needed for the audit.

The Fourth Investigation Bureau is responsible for non-routine audits involving suspected slush funds or tax evasion, while the International Transactions Investigation Bureau oversees cross-border dealings. The involvement of both units underscores the scope of the investigation.

Although CFS, Coupang’s logistics subsidiary, is formally listed as the audit target, industry officials said the probe effectively covers Coupang’s overall transactions. CFS is a wholly owned subsidiary that manages the operation of Coupang’s logistics centers nationwide.

Investigators are also reportedly examining profit-shifting structures at the group level, including transactions with Coupang’s US headquarters in Delaware, which owns 100% of the Korean unit.

Industry watchers described the scale of the audit as unusual, noting that the deployment of two bureaus and more than 100 investigators typically signals an extensive investigation. The move suggests the tax authority is treating the case with particular gravity.

The National Tax Service declined to comment, saying it could not confirm details of tax audits involving individual taxpayers.

Separately, Kim Beom-seok, executive chairman of Coupang, did not attend a parliamentary hearing on the personal data breach earlier in the day.

#National Tax Service #Coupang #special tax audit #personal data breach #overseas transactions