Alphabiz - Coupang Pays $1.1 Billion Interim Dividend to Parent Coupang Inc. for Global Expansion

(Photo=Coupang)

[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] SEOUL, April 10, 2026 — Coupang has paid an interim dividend of 1.47 trillion won (approximately $1.1 billion) to its U.S.-based parent, Coupang Inc., marking the first dividend distribution since the company’s founding.

According to an audit report disclosed on April 10, Coupang 지급ed 1.4659 trillion won in interim dividends to Coupang Inc., which holds a 100% stake in the Korean entity. The dividend amounted to 5.02 million won per common share.

Coupang stated that the dividend is not intended as a cash payout to shareholders, but rather as a financial resource for reinvestment in global expansion initiatives. “The interim dividend paid in the first half of last year is not a cash distribution to Coupang Inc. shareholders, but will be used to support global growth projects, including expansion in Taiwan,” a company official said.

The company has recently accelerated overseas investments, including the construction of its fourth fulfillment center in Taiwan.

However, the large-scale dividend from a Korea-based operating entity to its U.S. parent has drawn criticism. In response, Coupang emphasized that the dividend was not sourced from domestic operating profits, but from additional paid-in capital raised previously by Coupang Inc. through foreign investors.

Coupang explained that it offset accumulated losses of 3.47 trillion won using share premium (6.22 trillion won), and then converted the remaining 2.75 trillion won into retained earnings, which served as the basis for the dividend.

The audit report also showed strong financial performance. Coupang Korea reported revenue of 45.46 trillion won last year, up 18.7% from 38.30 trillion won in 2024.

Profitability improved significantly as well. Operating profit rose 40.9% year-on-year to 2.29 trillion won, while net income increased 37% to 1.59 trillion won. Despite a personal data breach incident late last year, the company’s growth trajectory remained largely unaffected.

On a consolidated basis, Coupang Inc. reported total revenue of 49.12 trillion won ($34.53 billion) and operating profit of 679 billion won ($473 million), including contributions from its Korean operations and growth businesses such as Taiwan.

Alphabiz Reporter Paul Lee(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)