

Beomseok Kim’s precise timing… Is your intention ‘defense’?
2025-12-29

[Anchor]
His apology, which was released to the public only two days before the hearing, contains belated reflection and regret.
However, there is much confusion as to whether this is a sincere apology to the customer or a sophisticated tactic to avoid immediate political and legal risks.
Reporter Song Soo-jin reads between the lines of the apology.
[Report]
“My apology was late,” and “I cannot help but feel devastated.” Chairman Kim Beom-seok devoted half of his apology to reflection and expression of regret.
Of the 2,000 characters, nearly 1,000 meant an apology.
But if you peel away the apples, there is a sophisticated strategy.
First of all, I did not use the word ‘wrong’ except for ‘wrong judgment’.
Instead, the large-scale information leak and series of circumstances are defined as ‘failure’ and ‘insufficient’.
Customer damage was only listed with emotional words such as 'anxiety' and 'worry', but actual damage was not specified.
The reason for the delay in the apology is indirectly blaming the government, saying that it could not be helped due to the government's request to maintain confidentiality.
Since it is not an intentional cover-up, it appears to be a request for forgiveness.
The expression ‘full cooperation with the government and compliance with government requests’ appears everywhere.
It appears to be an attempt to break the government-versus-Coupang structure that emerged with the announcement of the results of the 'self-investigation'.
Chairman Kim Beom-seok claimed in his apology that 'misinformation' is rampant and spreading, but Coupang did not reveal what the misinformation was.
[Kook-il Kim/Attorney at Daeryun Law Firm/Representative in local litigation in the U.S.: "3,000 of the saved items were 100% recovered. Then, everyone filing a class action suit now would be meaningless and only those who fall under those 3,000 should be compensated. That's the frame..."]
What is crucial is the timing of the apology.
Ahead of the hearing two days later, Chairman Kim included reflection, preparation of compensation plan, and promise to prevent recurrence in his apology.
This means that the company has built up a reputation for doing everything it can.
There is analysis that this is an advanced strategy to neutralize the hearing.
This is Sujin Song from KBS News.
Cinematographer: Choi Won-seok/Video Editing: Lee Hyun-mo/Graphics: Park Mi-joo
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