Tesco’s South Korean chain Homeplus is under investigation for allegedly selling customers’ contact information to insurance companies.

Tesco operates 400 owned stores and 198 franchise stores in South Korea.

The UK-based retailer said in a statement: “We can confirm our South Korean business, Homeplus, is under investigation regarding the handling of customer data.

“We take the protection of our customers’ data extremely seriously and are co-operating with the investigation.”

Steve Evans of BBC has reported Homeplus executives were barred from leaving the country while the investigation continues.

“How personal this information may have been is not known, though email addresses and spending habits would be useful to other companies,” says Evans.