Dedicated security staff jumps 75% to 370.1 people

Company expected to top retail sector for 4th consecutive year

Coupang Inc's headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Herald DB]
Coupang Inc's headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Herald DB]

Coupang Inc increased its cybersecurity investment by more than 50 percent last year compared to the previous year, according to newly released government data.

The Korea Internet & Security Agency's information security disclosure, released Tuesday, showed Coupang spent 134.94 billion won ($87.5 million) on information security last year, up 51.6 percent from 88.98 billion won in 2024. The disclosure covers the fiscal year ending last year and reflects investment made before a personal data breach that occurred late in the year.

Coupang's information security spending had grown gradually — from 63.9 billion won in 2022 to 65.9 billion won in 2023 — before accelerating sharply from 2024 onward.

Information security investment encompasses system maintenance, outsourcing fees, personnel costs and education and training expenses. Coupang drove the increase primarily through higher spending on security personnel (28.72 billion won) and outsourced system development, maintenance and upkeep (29.38 billion won).

The number of dedicated information security staff rose roughly 75 percent, from 211.6 to 370.1 people — about 10 times the 7.4 percent growth rate of Coupang's total workforce. In-house security personnel increased from 162.7 to 204.8, while outsourced security staff more than tripled, climbing from 48.9 to 165.3.

Coupang's overall IT investment reached 2.57 trillion won, up 34.2 percent year-on-year. As a result, information security spending as a share of total IT investment rose 0.6 percentage points to 5.2 percent, from 4.6 percent the previous year.

Coupang has ranked first in information security investment among retail companies for four consecutive years since mandatory disclosure requirements took effect in 2022, and is expected to retain the top position in this year's disclosure as well.

Among e-commerce rivals, Naver spent 66.03 billion won on information security and employed 154 dedicated staff — roughly half of Coupang's figures. Among major retailers, information security investment and dedicated headcount stood at 8 billion won and 18.9 people at E-mart, 3 billion won and 13.9 people at Hyundai Department Store, 2.8 billion won and 11.9 people at Hyundai Home Shopping, and 3.38 billion won and 10.8 people at Shinsegae. Lotte Shopping and Gmarket have yet to disclose their investment figures for last year.


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