Rights commission calls for leniency for ex-Coupang workers indicted in 'blacklist' case

South Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission urged prosecutors to be lenient toward two former Coupang employees indicted for leaking data about a blacklist of banned rehiring candidates. The whistleblowers exposed a list of over 16,000 people barred from reemployment by Coupang Fulfillment Services. Despite the company's initial legal action, public backlash led to dropped complaints, but police continued the investigation resulting in indictments under information protection laws.