According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, the FTC is close to ruling on allegations including self-preferencing by Coupang. Only a plenary vote remains, but timing and severity have raised tensions inside and outside government.

Why Washington backs Coupang

The U.S. Congress and White House cast Coupang, a New York-listed company, as an 'American firm,' arguing Korean platform rules discriminate against U.S. business. The pressure, landing mid-negotiation, leaves Seoul in a bind.

Disclosure that Trump traded Coupang stock 18 times in office and still holds roughly ₩200 million worth has prompted conflict-of-interest questions in and outside the U.S.

Lee's NATO gambit

President Lee is expected to attend the NATO summit in Europe this week and meet Trump to coordinate trade issues. The Coupang case may be linked to tariffs and defense-cost talks.

Seoul faces a double bind: defend the independence of its competition regime while avoiding trade friction. Delay invites domestic criticism of yielding to pressure; pressing ahead risks retaliation.

Stakes for Chinese-Korean businesses

Coupang is a key channel for overseas-Chinese small merchants in Korea. Fees and logistics policies could shift with the ruling and negotiations, so Chinese-Korean sellers should watch closely.

A third perspective: facts side by side

Korean media stress regulatory sovereignty; Washington stresses protecting its firms. We lay both logics and facts side by side so readers judge for themselves.