90 lawmakers protest US Republicans for ‘infringing’ on Korea’s judicial sovereignty

The strong protest by 90 South Korean lawmakers against US Republican lawmakers highlights a growing assertiveness in South Korea regarding its national sovereignty, particularly in the realm of judicial and regulatory matters. The lawmakers' condemnation of US interference in the investigation of Coupang, an e-commerce giant, frames the issue as a direct challenge to Korea's right to enforce its own laws and protect its citizens' data.

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The letter claims that Apple, Coupang, Google and Meta are being discriminated against, but the regulatory actions that these corporations were subjected to in Korea were merely measures taken to address breaches of law.

The core of the protest lies in the principle of sovereign equality and the rule of law. The lawmakers argue that American companies operating in South Korea should be subject to the same legal standards as domestic firms and that demands for "preferential treatment" are unacceptable. This stance reflects a nationalistic perspective that rejects external pressure on domestic legal processes, emphasizing that Korea, as a sovereign nation, has the legitimate right to investigate companies that violate its laws.

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The main argument of the Republican lawmakers’ letter rests on the logic that American companies should be subjected to standards more lenient than those required in the US, even when operating abroad. This violates the rule of law, the principle of sovereign equality, and the spirit of the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

The reference to the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement by Rep. Han Jeoung-ae further contextualizes the protest, suggesting that the US lawmakers' actions not only violate the spirit of bilateral agreements but also undermine the foundational principles of international trade and cooperation. From the perspective of The Hankyoreh, which often champions progressive causes and national interests, this incident underscores the importance of defending Korea's judicial independence against perceived overreach by its key ally. The article would likely frame this as a crucial moment in asserting South Korea's standing on the global stage, pushing back against what is seen as an attempt to subordinate Korean law to American corporate interests.

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Korea has the legitimate right as a sovereign nation to protect the personal information of its people and investigate companies that have violated its laws.