Coupang tops FTC fines among major Korean conglomerates: report

Coupang received the highest amount of fines from South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) among major conglomerates over the past three years, according to a parliamentary report.

Coupang, an ecommerce firm based in South Korea, was fined 162.8 billion won (US$114.3 million) from H1 2022 to H1 2025.

The FTC issued a fine last year for Coupang’s manipulation of search algorithms to raise the ranking of its private-label and directly purchased goods.

Hyundai Motor Group followed with 119.4 billion won (US$83.8 million) in fines, while Harim Group and SK Group received fines of 101.6 billion won (US$71.3 million) and 64.5 billion won (US$45.3 million), respectively.

The top 10 conglomerates were fined a combined 744.6 billion won (US$522.5 million) during the period, and were cited for 243 antitrust violations.

🔗 Source: Yonhap

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Coupang fine status and impact remain unclear

KFTC tallied 162.8 billion won in Coupang fines over three years yet its parliamentary report leaves open whether amounts are final or appealed or paid 1.
Coupang posted its first operating profit in 2023 at $473 million, so the penalty may not strain the balance sheet 2.
Lee Byung-tae at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), a research university, said courts overturn 60–70% of KFTC fines 3.
Seoul High Court upheld a KFTC sanction against NAVER for self-preferencing in shopping search results, so courts have backed some algorithm manipulation cases 4.

Algorithm compliance tools could see demand as KFTC probes self-preferencing

KFTC’s 2023 Online Platform Monopoly Guidelines name self-preferencing as a potentially abusive practice under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act (MRFTA), with case reviews weighing harm against efficiency 5.
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a policy think tank says pending rules could require algorithm disclosures while curbing self-preferencing, which raises transparency expectations that compliance software with consulting can meet 6.
Guidelines weigh intent, duration, and effects on innovation when regulators assess self-preferencing 5. That pushes demand for tools that keep records to justify algorithm choices, such as audit logs and experiment records 5.
KFTC sanctioned Kakao Mobility over dispatch conduct; a Seoul High Court reversed one penalty while another case is still under review, which signals continued enforcement and ongoing compliance needs 5.