分类： technology

South Korea’s dominant e-commerce platform Coupang has issued a formal apology following the discovery of a significant cybersecurity incident that potentially compromised the personal information of approximately 33.7 million domestic customer accounts. The breach, which represents more than half of South Korea’s 52 million population, marks the latest in a series of data security failures affecting major corporations in the technologically advanced nation.

According to company statements to the BBC, Coupang initially detected unauthorized access to approximately 4,500 customer accounts on November 18th, promptly reporting the incident to relevant authorities. Subsequent forensic investigation revealed the breach’s true magnitude, with evidence suggesting the security compromise may have originated as early as June through an overseas-based server.

The exposed data includes fundamental personal identifiers: customer names, email addresses, telephone numbers, physical shipping addresses, and selected order histories. Crucially, Coupang confirmed that financial information including credit card details and login credentials remained secure and uncompromised throughout the incident.

Often characterized as South Korea’s answer to Amazon, Coupang maintains dual headquarters in Seoul and the United States, recently reporting nearly 25 million active users. The company has advised customers to remain vigilant against potential phishing attempts and scams impersonating the brand while emphasizing that no immediate user action is required.

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has launched a comprehensive investigation into the breach, evaluating both its full scope and whether Coupang violated data protection regulations. The Personal Information Protection Commission announced plans for expedited assessment, noting that confirmed violations of safety measure obligations could result in significant sanctions.

This incident continues a troubling pattern of cybersecurity failures among South Korea’s corporate leaders despite the nation’s reputation for robust data privacy frameworks. Earlier this year, telecommunications behemoth SK Telecom faced penalties approaching $100 million following a breach affecting 20 million subscribers, while Lotte Cards acknowledged a separate cyberattack compromising data of nearly 3 million customers in September.

South Korea’s dominant e-commerce platform Coupang has confirmed a significant cybersecurity incident compromising the personal data of approximately 33.7 million customer accounts. The company, often referred to as South Korea’s equivalent of Amazon, disclosed that unauthorized access to its systems originated from overseas servers beginning June 24th.

The breach was detected on November 18th, prompting immediate notification to relevant authorities. According to Coupang’s official statement, the exposed information includes customer names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses, and limited order history data. Crucially, the company emphasized that financial payment details and login credentials remained secure throughout the incident.

This security compromise affects a substantial portion of Coupang’s user base, considering the company reported 24.7 million active commerce customers during the third quarter. The platform’s ‘Rocket’ delivery service has made it an integral part of daily life for millions of South Korean consumers.

Coupang’s investigation remains ongoing with collaboration from law enforcement and regulatory agencies. The company has not yet released details regarding potential mitigation measures for affected customers or the specific methodologies employed in the cyber intrusion.

In a significant development within China’s defense technology sector, private aerospace enterprise Lingkong Tianxing Technology has entered the hypersonic weapons arena with its newly unveiled YKJ-1000 missile system. This advancement marks a notable expansion beyond the traditionally state-dominated defense contracting landscape.

The Beijing-based company publicly demonstrated the YKJ-1000 system through actual launch footage released on its official WeChat platform. The visual documentation reveals a sophisticated two-stage weapon system comprising a booster rocket and a hypersonic glide vehicle equipped with dual engines. The missile achieves remarkable performance parameters with a maximum operational range of 1,300 kilometers and peak velocity reaching Mach 7 (approximately 8,575 km/h), while maintaining a powered cruise duration of six minutes.

Notably, the system features autonomous launch capability from containerized units, eliminating dependency on external support infrastructure. The demonstration footage illustrates the missile’s advanced operational capabilities, including mid-flight trajectory adjustment, autonomous navigation, and evasive maneuverability against naval defense systems. Additional testing sequences confirm successful terminal phase target engagement in desert environments.

Company representatives have addressed circulating speculation regarding production costs, clarifying that internet claims of a 700,000 yuan (approximately $99,000) per-unit price are inaccurate. However, the firm has developed innovative manufacturing approaches utilizing standardized industrial components that enable cost-effective mass production compared to traditional aerospace-grade custom parts.

Defense analyst Wu Peixin contextualized the system’s strategic value, noting that such hypersonic platforms create scalable defensive networks that can complement more sophisticated systems like the DF-17 while effectively depleting adversaries’ expensive interceptor inventories.

The baseline YKJ-1000 has commenced mass production, with an enhanced intelligent variant incorporating artificial intelligence for decision-making and swarm coordination capabilities currently under development. This achievement precedes the company’s planned 2026 test flight of its ‘Cuantianhou’ supersonic technology demonstrator, which will incorporate revolutionary ram-rotor detonation engine technology.

Abu Dhabi prepares to host groundbreaking conversations at the intersection of artificial intelligence and creative arts as BRIDGE Summit 2025 announces King Willonius, the visionary behind the viral AI-generated phenomenon ‘BBL Drizzy,’ as a headline speaker. The inaugural media event, scheduled for December 8-10 at ADNEC Abu Dhabi, will feature the award-winning comedian and AI architect in a landmark presentation about technological transformation in music.

Willonius emerged as a pivotal figure in contemporary digital culture through his revolutionary work blending artificial intelligence with musical creativity. His creation of ‘BBL Drizzy’ sparked international discourse about authorship boundaries and the evolving relationship between human artists and machine learning systems. This pioneering effort earned him prestigious recognition, including placement on Ebony’s Power 100 list and TIME magazine’s selection as one of the 100 most influential figures in AI.

The summit will feature Willonius’s keynote address titled ‘This Is How I Reimagined Music with AI,’ offering attendees an unprecedented examination of how emotional intelligence, personal narrative, and algorithmic processing can converge to create entirely new artistic paradigms. His methodology involves training AI systems with his own creative inputs, demonstrating how artificial intelligence can transcend mere imitation to achieve genuine collaborative artistry. This approach points toward a future where sound becomes deeply personalized, infinitely programmable, and fundamentally limitless.

BRIDGE Summit 2025 represents a massive convergence of global creative and technological expertise, with expected attendance of 60,000 participants from 132 countries. The event will showcase more than 430 international speakers, 1,200 industry executives, 260 advertising agencies, and 150 exhibitors across seven integrated thematic tracks: media, creator economy, music, gaming, technology, marketing, and visual media. This comprehensive programming establishes the summit as the world’s largest shared marketplace for media, content, and entertainment innovation.

The summit operates under the auspices of the BRIDGE Alliance, an independent non-profit organization that facilitates collaboration among industry leaders, policymakers, CEOs, investors, and media professionals worldwide. The Alliance works to strengthen global media ecosystems through knowledge exchange, priority alignment, and cross-border cooperation. Its mission emphasizes advancing credibility, trust, and transparency while supporting responsible innovation that positions media as a driver of economic, social, and cultural development.

Aligned with the UAE’s vision for enhanced global cooperation, the BRIDGE Alliance reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a hub for international dialogue and technological advancement. Registration for the December summit is currently available through the official BRIDGE Summit website and the event’s dedicated digital companion application, which provides participants with real-time updates, scheduling information, and speaker details.

In a groundbreaking development for the precious metals industry, Emirates Gold and Public Gold have unveiled the world’s first fintech-integrated gold ATM at the Dubai Precious Metals Conference 2025. This revolutionary installation at Atlantis, The Palm represents a significant advancement in digital-to-physical gold infrastructure, merging cutting-edge financial technology with traditional bullion accessibility.

The landmark launch was ceremoniously inaugurated by Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of DMCC, alongside Abhijit Shah of Emirates Gold and Jerry Ng from Public Gold. This strategic collaboration combines Emirates Gold’s refinery expertise with Public Gold’s technological capabilities, creating a seamless platform that transforms how consumers interact with precious metals.

Operating 24/7, these sophisticated ATMs can store over 70 distinct designs of gold and silver bars, enabling users to purchase bullion using digital payment methods including e-wallets and credit cards. The machines feature advanced security systems and offer multiple functionalities beyond simple transactions, with future enhancements planned for cryptocurrency conversion and tokenized gold redemption from secure vault facilities.

The initial installation at Almas Tower will serve as the prototype for an extensive network of 35-40 units scheduled for deployment across high-traffic locations throughout the UAE by 2026. This expansion will establish the region’s most comprehensive gold ATM infrastructure, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global leader in both traditional gold markets and financial innovation.

Abhijit Shah emphasized the transformative nature of this development: “As the UAE maintains its status as the world’s most trusted physical gold hub, this innovation establishes new global standards for secure and transparent bullion accessibility.” Jerry Ng added that this technological breakthrough “eliminates traditional barriers, making physical gold ownership fundamentally more accessible and secure for everyone.”

This initiative aligns perfectly with the UAE’s broader objectives of economic diversification and technological advancement, while simultaneously addressing evolving investor preferences for digital-physical asset integration. The ATMs maintain Emirates Gold’s rigorous standards for purity and security while offering curated selections suitable for investment, collection, or gifting purposes.

Xiong’an New Area has positioned itself at the forefront of China’s aerospace technology revolution, hosting a landmark conference that signals transformative advancements in satellite internet and aerospace information systems. The 2025 Innovation Development Conference of China Aerospace Information and Satellite Internet Innovation Alliance, convened on November 27th, unveiled groundbreaking technological products and application scenarios that promise to reshape the nation’s aerospace capabilities.

The conference showcased dual inventories of cutting-edge technological products and implementation frameworks, featuring satellite payloads and terminal equipment designed to bolster China’s competitive edge in the global aerospace sector. These innovations establish a comprehensive operational system spanning underground, ground, low-altitude, and space applications, including specialized communication support for polar research expeditions.

Strategic partnership agreements were formalized during the event, focusing on innovation collaboration and technology transformation initiatives. This development aligns with Xiong’an’s strategic prioritization of aerospace information and satellite internet as primary innovation chains, which has already attracted 63 companies and seven specialized innovation platforms to establish operations within the new area.

The convergence of technological assets in Xiong’an represents a significant milestone in China’s broader strategy to develop integrated space-ground information infrastructure. This initiative not only enhances national capabilities in satellite communications and remote sensing but also positions Xiong’an as a crucible for technological innovation with far-reaching implications for both commercial and scientific applications.