Taiwan is prioritizing data protection as the Ministry of Digital Affairs investigates a large-scale security breach linked to South Korean e-commerce company Coupang. Early findings show no compromised Taiwanese accounts, but authorities say they will continue verifying details.
Lin Ching-chin, who leads the ministry’s Platform Economy Division, said officials contacted Coupang immediately after learning about the breach. Lin explained that Coupang confirmed the incident mainly affected South Korean users and did not involve Taiwanese account information so far.
Reports say the breach exposed the personal data of about 33.7 million customers. Investigators believe unauthorized access may have begun months ago, which increases concern about response delays and cybersecurity oversight.
Coupang Taiwan said its technical team reviewed system activity and found no signs of unauthorized access affecting local users. The company said information such as names, phone numbers, delivery addresses, and email accounts remains secure. It also noted that encrypted payment data continues functioning normally without signs of interception.
Lin said the government will not rely solely on company reporting. The ministry plans to maintain direct communication with Coupang and request ongoing transparency as external cybersecurity specialists complete deeper analysis. He also said public trust depends on accountability and timely reporting.
Cybersecurity analysts say this breach highlights the risks that global platforms face as they expand into new markets. They also warn that large companies sometimes underestimate the speed at which attacks spread across regional systems.
Authorities in Taiwan plan to keep monitoring developments while reviewing whether policy updates are necessary. Lin said the government wants companies operating in Taiwan to demonstrate strong data protection standards before and after incidents, not only when breaches occur.
Coupang and third-party experts expect to release additional findings in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the ministry encourages users to remain alert, update passwords regularly, and follow official announcements in case the situation evolves.
As cross-border e-commerce continues growing, officials say data protection will stay at the center of digital governance, consumer confidence, and regulatory planning.
