Gas Stations Also Boycotted? ... Controversy Continues Despite Apology from GS President over 'Namhyum Suspicion'

Promotional poster by GS25 that sparked the 'misandry controversy.' Photo by Internet Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Jumi Lee] GS Retail, embroiled in a 'misandry controversy' over an advertising poster, has attempted to quell the situation with an apology from the president himself, but the controversy shows little sign of dying down. Various online communities are also moving to re-examine GS Retail's past promotional materials and products.

This time, it is about the 'GS Retail 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin' event poster. Some men have raised suspicions that this poster includes a finger logo symbolizing misandry, which has recently sparked controversy.

GS Retail explained that they used the original image received from the coin supplier as is, and argued that linking the related (finger) pattern to misandry is unreasonable, but the suspicions remain unresolved.

Some claim that in the past, snack products concealed images similar to the logo of the Seoul National University feminist society 'Gwanak Feminist Society Dal,' and other posters have consistently used the logo of the male-hating community 'Megalia.'

An apple signboard set up by a GS convenience store owner. Photo by Internet Community Capture

The controversy is escalating as the first issue arose with the 'Let's Go Camping' poster, and a second controversy broke out over the revised poster allegedly adding an image similar to the Gwanak Feminist Society Dal's logo.

Some communities have even posted boycott certification photos. Posts encouraging boycotts by uploading pictures of instant foods piled up at GS25 convenience stores, as well as lists of alternative products, are appearing.

This boycott movement has led to a secondary gender conflict due to the response of some GS25 convenience store franchisees.

One GS25 convenience store owner put up an apology signboard expressing sentiments like "I also dislike feminists," which spread across online communities, causing contrasting reactions between women and men. Female-centered community users gave low ratings to the store in anger, while male-centered community users visited the store in person to show support.

The boycott is expanding beyond convenience stores and retail to all GS affiliates. Some communities posted that they used other brands instead of the GS Caltex gas stations they always frequented.

Meanwhile, GS25 convenience store franchisees have reported sales damage due to this incident and demanded a clear apology and compensation from headquarters, even warning of a class-action lawsuit.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.