Harold Rogers (해롤드 로저스), Coupang's interim representative in South Korea and a central figure in various allegations facing the company, appeared at police on Thursday for a second time.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's anti-corruption investigation unit called Rogers in on Thursday afternoon and is questioning him as a suspect for violating the law on testimony and appraisals before the National Assembly.

Arriving at the agency's Mapo building at 1:29 p.m., Rogers said, "Coupang will continue to cooperate with all government investigations, and I will sincerely participate in today's probe."

He did not answer reporters' questions, including whether he admits the allegations and whether Coupang lobbied the U.S. House of Representatives claiming it was being discriminated against, and headed to the interrogation room.

It was Rogers' second appearance, following one on Jan. 30. After stressing his willingness to cooperate then, he also struck a low-key tone in an internal email sent to employees the previous day, asking them to actively cooperate, including by submitting materials.

Police plan to examine on Thursday whether remarks Rogers made at a National Assembly hearing on Dec. 30 to 31 last year amounted to perjury and, if so, whether he was aware they were false.

At the time, Rogers claimed that Coupang contacted and questioned a suspected personal data leaker and recovered a laptop at the instruction of the South Korean government, specifically the National Intelligence Service. The NIS countered that it had not given Coupang any instructions, and the National Assembly's science and ICT committee filed a complaint accusing Rogers and 6 current and former Coupang executives of perjury.

Rogers has already been investigated on allegations he destroyed evidence by conducting a "self-investigation" into the personal data leak case, including obstruction of the execution of official duties. He also faces allegations that he ordered a report that downplayed or avoided responsibility for an industrial accident involving the late Coupang worker Jang Deok-jun (장덕준), who died in 2020.

The latest summons of Rogers comes as backlash grows in some quarters of the United States over moves to sanction and investigate Coupang.

Rogers has also received a subpoena from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee ordering him to appear on the 23rd to testify about South Korea's "targeting" of U.S. companies.

In the subpoena, the committee criticised the investigation of Rogers, defining it as a "threat of criminal punishment against U.S. citizens". A police official said, "We are only conducting the investigation in accordance with relevant procedures and regulations," adding, "We do not know of any other circumstances."

[Yonhap]