South Korea and the United States have agreed that the ongoing dispute involving Coupang should not impact their broader relationship.Both governments say they are working closely to ensure the issue is handled through dialogue while continuing cooperation on security, trade and other shared priorities.The statement comes as South Korea defends its investigation into Coupang following a major data breach, while some U.S. lawmakers have questioned whether the company has been treated fairly.Despite the differing views, officials from both countries have stressed that the issue will remain separate from the long-standing alliance between Seoul and Washington.Key Highlights South Korea and US keep Coupang dispute separate from alliance ties Seoul and Washington seek dialogue over Coupang data breach dispute Coupang investigation sparks debate without affecting US South Korea allianceSouth Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha said both governments understand the importance of keeping the dispute from affecting wider bilateral ties. She said officials are in regular contact and remain committed to resolving concerns through open communication.U.S. Report Sparks DebateThe latest discussions follow an interim report by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, which claimed South Korean regulators had unfairly targeted Coupang. The report raised concerns that the company's treatment could discourage American businesses from investing or expanding in South Korea.South Korea has dismissed those claims, saying the report relied heavily on the company's arguments while giving little weight to the government's explanation. Officials insisted that the investigation was carried out under existing laws and was focused on protecting consumers and their personal information.The government also said South Korea remains committed to providing a fair and transparent business environment for both domestic and international companies. It added that enforcing privacy laws should not be viewed as discrimination against foreign businesses.Data Breach at the CentreThe dispute began after South Korean authorities investigated a major data breach involving Coupang. According to regulators, the incident exposed information linked to more than 33 million customer accounts after a former employee in China accessed company data using internal credentials.Coupang has maintained that the number of affected records was much smaller, but South Korean officials disagree. They argue that the scale of the breach required a thorough investigation and raised serious concerns about how customer information was handled and where the data may have been transferred.Following the investigation, South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission imposed a significant financial penalty on the company, saying weaknesses in its data protection measures contributed to the breach. Authorities have repeatedly stated that the enforcement action was based on privacy regulations and consumer protection laws, not on the company's ownership or listing status.Even with the disagreement, both Seoul and Washington have made it clear that they do not want the issue to affect their broader U.S.-South Korea alliance. The two countries continue to work together on regional security, economic cooperation and technology, areas that remain central to their relationship.Also Read: Pertamina & Boeing Partner to Advance Indonesia's SAF Industry GrowthAnalysts say both governments have strong reasons to prevent the dispute from escalating. As discussions continue, officials are expected to focus on resolving concerns over the Coupang case while ensuring that it does not overshadow the broader strategic partnership between South Korea and the United States.