US lawmaker warns of 'consequences' for hostile actions against US firms after talks with Seoul official

WASHINGTON — A U.S. lawmaker said Monday that there are "consequences" for state-sponsored "hostile actions" toward American companies after he met with Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo amid intense scrutiny of e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. in Seoul over a massive data leak. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) made the remarks in a social media post following the meeting with Yeo, who was in Washington as part of efforts to address U.S. concerns over Korea's regulatory efforts about online platforms, as well as the data leak incident surrounding Coupang, a U.S.-listed firm. "My bottom line: There are consequences for state-sponsored hostile actions towards American companies and American citizens," Issa wrote on X, apparently suggesting that U.S. tech firms are unfairly treated in Korea. Issa also said that during a "good" discussion with Yeo, he made clear that the "unjustified targeting of American technology companies and unfair treatment of Coupang by the Lee administration are not acceptable, especially from a friend of 70 years." "Korea is a vital ally, but I will work with my colleagues