Coupang, one of South Korea’s biggest e-commerce and logistics platforms, announced the resignation of CEO Park Dae-jun after a major data breach compromised the personal information of nearly 34 million users. The company confirmed the leadership change three weeks after disclosing the incident on November 18, which has quickly become one of the largest cybersecurity failures in the country’s retail sector.

In an official statement, Park expressed deep regret over the breach and acknowledged full responsibility for both the incident and the recovery process. He stated that disappointing customers and the public prompted his decision to leave all positions within the organization. Park joined Coupang in 2012 and played a central operational role for over a decade. In May of this year, he became the company’s sole CEO after Coupang moved away from its dual-CEO structure.

Following Park’s exit, Coupang Inc., the U.S.-listed parent company, appointed Harold Rogers as interim CEO. Rogers previously served as Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, overseeing legal strategy, compliance and administrative operations. Under his interim leadership, Coupang aims to stabilize internal operations and reduce customer anxiety surrounding the breach. The company said Rogers will prioritize strengthening data security controls, improving transparency for affected users and accelerating the recovery roadmap.

The breach has triggered heightened scrutiny from regulators, as South Korea has some of the strictest data protection regulations in Asia. Analysts have noted that the scale of the leak — nearly two-thirds of the country’s population — raises significant concerns about cybersecurity preparedness among large digital retailers. Local reports suggest that additional oversight measures may be introduced as authorities continue to investigate how the breach occurred and whether the company met required security standards.

During his tenure, Park led several major initiatives, including the expansion of Coupang’s regional logistics infrastructure, the launch of new business verticals and programs that helped broaden sales channels for small and medium-sized businesses. His departure marks the most significant leadership change at the company since its New York Stock Exchange debut in 2021.

Coupang’s rapid growth, driven by its Rocket Delivery network and aggressive expansion in categories such as grocery and fintech, has made the company a cornerstone of South Korea’s digital economy. However, the data breach has introduced one of its biggest reputational challenges. Interim CEO Rogers is expected to focus on restoring consumer trust while reinforcing cybersecurity investments as Coupang moves forward.

With ongoing customer concerns, regulatory pressure and rising market expectations, Coupang’s next steps will play a critical role in determining how effectively the company can recover from one of its most severe crises to date.