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Photo = Coupang |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A Coupang Play employee has been referred to the prosecution for allegedly leaking NAVER’s confidential business information related to sports content.
On June 25, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency’s Security Investigation Division announced that it has forwarded Mr. A, an employee of Coupang Play, to the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office on charges of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act.
Mr. A is accused of leaking NAVER’s confidential business information regarding sports content partnerships and contracts during his transition from NAVER to Coupang Play in December 2023.
NAVER detected the unauthorized transfer during an internal audit conducted after Mr. A submitted his resignation and filed a police complaint in March 2024.
Authorities launched an investigation and executed a search and seizure at Mr. A’s residence in December 2023. Digital forensic analysis and examination of confiscated materials led the police to conclude that Mr. A had leaked NAVER’s confidential documents labeled “internal use only.” While the exact contents and volume of the leaked data were not disclosed, the police stated that the materials met the legal criteria for trade secrets: non-public nature, confidentiality, and economic value.
However, investigators did not find evidence that Mr. A had shared or used the materials at Coupang Play. The documents were found to have been personally retained by Mr. A during the resignation process.
A police spokesperson commented, “There appears to be no actual damage resulting from this incident. Due to the sensitive nature of the case, we cannot disclose further details.”
Coupang is a leading e-commerce company in South Korea and operates Coupang Play, an over-the-top (OTT) streaming service. Coupang Play holds exclusive broadcasting rights to major sports events, including Korea’s K League 1 and 2, as well as top European football leagues such as the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Ligue 1. The platform also offers international sports content including Formula 1, NASCAR, NFL, ONE Championship, and LIV Golf.
NAVER has also streamed popular domestic sports such as baseball and soccer and has been locked in fierce competition with other OTT services over sports content rights in recent years.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
