In the spirit of the new normal of criticizing allies, Washington recently complained out loud that American companies are being unfairly treated in Korea. The State Department flagged “significant concerns” over the “fake news” law, which went into effect this month. This followed a scathing House Judiciary Committee report that said Seoul was engaged in a “harassment campaign” against U.S. businesses, particularly the e-commerce giant Coupang. It’s a serious accusation, doubly so because it is coming from the country’s closest ally and trading partner. Cheong Wa Dae issued a flat denial and floated the suggestion that Washington was being played by Coupang lobbyists. This response could have been better. But that is not to say Washington was right. It wasn’t. It was only half right. The real problem in Korea is not whether the authorities mistreat foreign, or specifically American, companies. They don’t really. It is that Korea too often mistreats companies, period. That fine point is not always apparent to those in the firing line. Speak privately to foreign executiv