Coupang's Market Value Nears $50 Billion as "Amazon of Korea" Continues Expansion

Coupang, often dubbed the "Amazon of Korea," maintains a robust market capitalization, currently standing at approximately $48.52 billion as of December 3, 2025. This valuation underscores the significant growth of the e-commerce giant, which saw early investments from prominent figures like Stan Druckenmiller and Bill Ackman. The company's journey from its inception to its current standing is rooted in a customer-centric philosophy articulated by founder Bom Kim.

In Coupang's 2021 S-1 shareholder letter, Kim outlined the core principle guiding the company: "We want our customers to have it all." This vision is actualized through four key pillars of customer experience: Rocket Delivery, promising rapid shipping; Delivered by Dawn, offering early morning deliveries; effortless returns, simplifying the customer process; and deliveries without packaging, reflecting a commitment to sustainability. These services have significantly impacted the lives of customers, employees, and merchants across South Korea, contributing to the nation's economy.

Coupang's strategic expansion beyond its core e-commerce offerings includes services like Rocket Fresh for fresh grocery delivery, Coupang Eats for restaurant delivery, and Coupang Play for online content streaming. A significant recent development is the company's acquisition of Farfetch in early 2024, a move that injected $500 million in financing into the luxury e-commerce platform. This acquisition, which effectively wiped out Farfetch's existing equity holders, highlights Coupang's ambition to broaden its global footprint and diversify its business segments.

Bom Kim's entrepreneurial path began long before Coupang, with ventures such as Current Magazine and the Harvard alumni magazine 02138, the latter of which he sold before its collapse during the 2009 financial crisis. He later dropped out of business school to dedicate himself fully to Coupang, demonstrating a persistent drive to innovate and build. His leadership has guided Coupang to become a critical infrastructure in the global economy, continuously evolving its services and market reach.