It has been confirmed that Coupang conducted lobbying activities targeting the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives during the second quarter of this year through a firm with close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to data released by the U.S. Senate on July 15 (local time) in accordance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act, Coupang paid $250,000 (370 million KRW) to the lobbying firm Ballard Partners during the second quarter.
The lobbying objectives were specified as strengthening economic ties between the U.S. and its allies, with mentions of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union (EU).
The targets of the lobbying were identified as the White House, the Executive Office of the President, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
The firm's president, Brian Ballard, is a lobbyist who has wielded significant influence in Washington D.C. since President Trump returned to power.
He has maintained a decades-long friendship with President Trump, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Pam Bondi, who served as the first Attorney General in the second Trump administration, previously worked at Ballard's firm.
However, it was reported that an incident occurred in May of last year where President Trump felt used by Ballard, leading to Ballard becoming a persona non grata at the White House.
There have also been reports that Ballard subsequently mended his relationship with President Trump through Chief of Staff Wiles.
Coupang has been conducting extensive lobbying efforts targeting the White House and federal lawmakers. On July 1, a report was released by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee claiming that the South Korean government is treating Coupang in a discriminatory manner.
The report contained a large number of Coupang's unilateral claims, with almost no reflection of the South Korean government's position.
The Blue House refuted the claims, stating, "We do not discriminate in corporate activities based on nationality."