National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik condemned US Republicans’ claim that South Korea was discriminating against e-commerce giant Coupang, calling it “interference in domestic affairs”.

His remarks followed a letter sent by 54 US lawmakers in the Republican Study Committee to South Korean Ambassador to the United States Kang Kyung-wha, in which they claimed Seoul was taking discriminatory and unfair actions against the US-based company that is under police investigation and government scrutiny for a massive customer data leak last year.

“Coupang is under multiple allegations, such as a massive data breach and algorithm rigging. If US Republicans say it is a discriminatory measure against US firms, it means they do not respect Korean laws,” Woo said on an SBS radio show on Friday.

“This is an apparent intervention in domestic affairs and should not happen … If Korean companies did the same things [data leak and algorithm rigging] in the US, would the US let it go?” he said. “I urge Republicans not to meddle in Korea’s legal affairs.”

Woo also lashed out at Coupang, saying that it has to abide by South Korean laws and follow government policies if it does business and earns profits in the country. “It seems the company wants to make money in Korea as it pleases, but ignore Korean sentiment. Coupang should show respect to Koreans,” he said.

In the letter, the Republican lawmakers urged South Korea to stop targeting American companies, with Coupang cited alongside major tech companies.