7 Hours in the Courtroom: 5 Bombshells Coupang CEO Rogers' U.S. House Testimony Drops on the Korea-U.S. Trade War
Coupang's interim Korean CEO Harold Rogers completed 7 hours of closed-door testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on February 23 (local time). With House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Vice President JD Vance joining the fray, the Coupang issue has emerged as a new flashpoint in Korea-U.S. trade tensions, and the possibility of invoking Section 301 of the Trade Act has become a reality.
Why you need to read this now — The day Coupang's Korean CEO was summoned to the U.S. Capitol, the threat of Section 301 of the Trade Act directed at the Korean government became reality.
TL;DR
- Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang Korea, completed 7 hours of closed-door testimony before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on February 23 (local time)
- House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, Vice President JD Vance, and others formed a bipartisan front criticizing the Korean government
- Coupang's investors filed a petition for a Section 301 Trade Act investigation — the Trump administration declared it "Plan B"
- Chosun Ilbo exclusive: Thousands of communications between the National Assembly, Presidential Office, and FTC have already been submitted to the U.S. Congress
- Coupled with tariff hike threats (15% → 25%), this has been elevated to the biggest variable in Korea-U.S. trade relations
1. The Facts: What Happened During Those 7 Hours
February 23 (local time), Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C. Harold Rogers, interim CEO of Coupang Korea, appeared before the closed-door deposition of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Administrative Law, Regulatory Affairs, and Antitrust.
Rogers entered the hearing room in silence, ignoring questions from reporters. After approximately 7 hours of closed-door testimony, he issued a brief statement: "I regret the situation in Korea and will seek constructive solutions."
This appearance is in the nature of a preliminary deposition. It differs from a simple hearing in that it serves as a precursor that could lead to future legislative or administrative action.
2. How It Spread: Why U.S. Politicians Got Involved
There are three connecting threads that brought the Coupang affair all the way to the U.S. Congress.
① Large-scale data breach: The direct trigger for Korean regulators to investigate Coupang. However, Coupang claims it is a "political target."
② Trump tariff overlap: After President Trump declared in January that "Korea is not honoring its agreements with the United States" and threatened to raise tariffs from 15% to 25%, Chair Jim Jordan immediately connected it on Twitter: "This is what happens when you target American companies like Coupang."
③ Bipartisan alignment: Not only Republicans Jim Jordan and Scott Fitzgerald, but also Democrat Suzan DelBene publicly stated, "Businesses in my district are concerned about Korean regulators breaking their promises." Bipartisan agreement of this kind is rare.
④ Vance–Kim Min-seok call: Vice President JD Vance directly raised the Coupang issue in his Washington meeting with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, noting the need to manage the misunderstanding so it doesn't escalate into a bilateral government conflict.
3. Context: What Exactly Is Section 301 of the Trade Act?
Section 301 of the Trade Act is a powerful tool that allows the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate foreign unfair trade practices and impose retaliatory tariffs and import restrictions. This is the very provision that triggered the trade war when applied to Chinese goods during Trump's first term.
Currently, Coupang's investors are petitioning the USTR for a Section 301 investigation, and the Trump administration declared Section 301 as "Plan B" following the IEEPA unconstitutionality ruling (February 20). If the Coupang issue becomes the first target, the ripple effects across Korea's entire e-commerce market would be unavoidable.
According to an exclusive Chosun Ilbo report, the U.S. Congress has already received thousands of communications from the National Assembly, Presidential Office, and FTC — including National Assembly hearing footage — submitted by Coupang. Opposition lawmakers' profanity and outbursts are reportedly included.
4. Outlook: 5 Options Left for the Korean Government
| # | Option | Likelihood | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Continue investigation, pursue diplomatic dialogue in parallel | High | Continued trade friction |
| 2 | Adjust level of Coupang-related sanctions | Medium | Domestic public opinion backlash |
| 3 | Use Korea-U.S. trade package as negotiation card | Medium | Insufficient negotiation time |
| 4 | Request international arbitration | Low | Protracted process |
| 5 | Accept Section 301 designation | Very low | Sovereignty violation controversy |
The key variable is Trump's scheduled visit to China from March 31 to April 2. If Korea loses negotiating leverage in connection with the North Korea dialogue card, the Coupang issue could become a pretext for larger trade concessions.
5. Checklist: What Investors, Consumers, and Businesses Should Verify Now
References
- Coupang CEO Rogers testifies in closed session before U.S. House Judiciary Committee — '301' trade pressure ahead? — Hankyoreh
- 'American lobby politics?' Coupang CEO Harold Rogers appears before U.S. Congress — BBC Korea
- Coupang CEO testifies for 7 hours in U.S. Congress — new variable in Korea-U.S. trade? — EToday
Image Credit
- U.S. Capitol Building at dusk: Wikimedia Commons, Carol M. Highsmith, Public Domain