We exist to wow our customers. We know we’re doing the right thing when we hear our customers say, “How did I ever live without Coupang?” Born out of an obsession to make shopping, eating, and living easier than ever, we are collectively disrupting the multi-billion-dollar commerce industry from the ground up and establishing an unparalleled reputation for being leading and reliable force in South Korean commerce.
We are proud to have the best of both worlds — a startup culture with the resources of a large global public company. This fuels us to continue our growth and launch new services at the speed we have been since our inception. We are all entrepreneurs surrounded by opportunities to drive new initiatives and innovations. At our core, we are bold and ambitious people that like to get our hands dirty and make a hands-on impact. At Coupang, you will see yourself, your colleagues, your team, and the company grow every day.
Our mission to build the future of commerce is real. We push the boundaries of what’s possible to solve problems and break traditional tradeoffs. Join Coupang now to create an epic experience in this always-on, high-tech, and hyper-connected world.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly motivated Legal Director to support legal affairs for our Global eCommerce operations, including cross-border business models such as B2B export/import and B2C overseas direct-to-customer purchase (Jikgu). In this role, you will be lead lawyer for our overseas sellers in select regions and serve as a trusted business partner navigating complex regulatory landscapes to drive global business growth. While expertise in cross-border regulations is valued, what matters most is your highly proactive attitude — a willingness to continuously learn new concepts and eagerly reach out to diverse stakeholders to deeply understand the business and their needs. Because you will manage and collaborate with a wide array of cross-functional teams, being a dedicated team player is essential. Additionally, you will utilize exceptional drafting and negotiation skills to manage the vast array of purchasing and logistics contracts required in the global e-commerce space.
What You Will Do
- Proactively reach out to and collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders to deeply understand their business models, needs, and operational goals.
- Act as a true team player, building strong partnerships with cross-functional global teams (Business, Tech, Compliance, Policy, and Communications).
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements in English and Korean, with a heavy focus on cross-border purchasing and global logistics/supply chain contracts.
- Provide pragmatic, business-centric legal advisory on complex issues affecting global e-commerce, including consumer protection, intellectual property, and antitrust under Korean law.
- Lead regulatory strategy and manage interactions, inquiries, and investigations with key government authorities (e.g., Customs).
- Develop proactive compliance strategies regarding the E-commerce Act, Customs Act, and Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.
- Identify operational and legal risks across the global business pipeline and develop internal policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Select, direct, and evaluate outside counsel to ensure cost-effective and high-quality legal support.
Basic Qualifications
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant legal experience, combining law firm training with significant in-house experience at a multinational technology, e-commerce, or retail company.
- Qualified to practice law in South Korea (Korean Bar) or a major overseas jurisdiction (e.g., US Bar).
- Native or bilingual proficiency in both English and Korean, with exceptional ability to communicate with executive leadership in both languages.
- Exceptional commercial contract drafting and negotiation skills.
- Highly proactive attitude with a demonstrated willingness to learn new business areas and initiate cross-functional collaboration.
- Extensive experience in commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and consumer protection laws.
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge of cross-border e-commerce operations, international trade, and global supply chain dynamics.
- Familiarity with relevant cross-border regulations, specifically Customs Law and the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.
- Proven track record of successfully managing regulatory audits, investigations, and direct communications with Korean regulatory bodies (e.g., Customs).
- Exceptional business acumen with the ability to think strategically, make practical decisions in ambiguous situations, and balance legal risk against business objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to influence, align, and lead cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders without formal authority.
Recruitment Process and Others
Recruitment Process
- Application Review - Phone Interview - Onsite (or Virtual Onsite) Interview – Offer
- The exact nature of the recruitment process may vary according to the specific job and may be changed due to scheduling or other circumstances.
- Interview schedules and the results will be informed to the applicant via the e-mail address submitted at the application stage.
Details to Consider
- This job posting may be closed prior to the stated end date for application if all openings are filled.
- Coupang has the right to rescind an offer of employment if a candidate is found to have submitted false information as part of the application process.
- Those eligible for employment protection (recipients of veteran’s benefits, the disabled, etc.) may receive preferential treatment for employment in accordance with applicable laws.
- Job titles and responsibilities may be subject to change depending on the candidate’s overall experience, etc. This will be communicated to the candidate at the appropriate time before the offer.
- Hiring may be restricted in case the legal qualifications required for hiring and work performance is not met.
- This is a full-time regular position and includes 12 weeks of probation period; provided, however, the probationary period may be either skipped, shortened or extended if necessary for business purposes.
Privacy Notice
Document Return Policy
- This notification is given pursuant to Article 11 (6) of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act.
- A job applicant, who has applied but not been finally selected for a position at Coupang (the “Company”), may request the Company to return his/her hiring documents submitted pursuant to the Fair Hiring Procedure Act. However, this will not apply where the hiring documents were submitted via the website of the Company or e-mail, or where the job applicant submitted those documents voluntarily without a request from the Company. In addition, if the hiring documents were destroyed due to a natural disaster or any other reasons not attributable to the Company, such documents will be deemed to have been returned to the job applicant.
- A job applicant who wishes to request the return of his/her hiring documents pursuant to the main sentence of paragraph 2 above should fill out a “Request for Return of Hiring Documents” [Annex Form No. 3 in the Enforcement Rule of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act] and submit It by email (recruitingops@coupang.com). In such case, within fourteen (14) days from the date of identifying the receipt of the request, the Company will send the hiring documents to the job applicant’s designated address via registered mail. Please be informed that the job applicant is required to pay the postage on the registered mail.
- In preparation for a job applicant’s request for the return of hiring documents pursuant to the main sentence of paragraph 2 above, the Company shall retain the original hiring documents submitted by the job applicant for 180 days from the completion of the recruiting process. If no request is made until the end of this period, all his/her hiring documents will be destroyed immediately in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act.
- The above paragraphs 1 - 4 shall only apply when the labor-related laws of Korea govern the application. They are otherwise not applicable.
