[June 3 Election] 'May 18 Tank Day' Controversy... Gwangsan-eul By-election Candidates Condemn "Insult to Gwangju"

"Calls for Stronger Penalties for Distorting or Insulting May 18"

Demands for Constitutional Inclusion and Starbucks Boycott Also Raised

In response to the controversy surrounding Starbucks Korea's so-called 'May 18 Tank Day' event, candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and independent candidates running in the Gwangju Gwangsan-eul National Assembly by-election held press conferences and expressed their views on social media on May 20, condemning the event as "an insult to the spirit of May 18." They pledged to strengthen penalties for the distortion or insult of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and to include the spirit of May 18 in the preamble of the Constitution as key campaign promises.

Im Munyoung, the Democratic Party candidate for Gwangju Gwangsan-eul, posted on social media on the same day, criticizing Starbucks' "Tank Day" event by stating, "Those who do not understand how the freedom they enjoy was won are not qualified to enjoy that freedom," adding, "I cannot help but feel outraged."

Im argued, "This cannot be a matter of just one or two individuals. The entire line of decision-makers responsible for planning, budgeting, and promoting the event is fundamentally flawed, which is why this happened." He further stated, "We should stop using Starbucks," and added, "Companies that mock social justice should not be allowed to survive," emphasizing the need for a boycott.

Chung Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, issued a public apology regarding Starbucks Korea's 'Tank Day' event held on the 18th, the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Photo by Yonhap News.

Bae Sujin, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party candidate for the Gwangju Gwangsan-eul National Assembly by-election, held a press conference in the briefing room of Gwangju City Council on the same day and announced as her first campaign pledge the completion of a constitutional amendment to include the spirit of May 18 in the preamble and the revision of the law to prevent distortion and disparagement of May 18.

Bae stated, "'May 18 Tank Day' is a symbolic scene showing that the insult of May 18 has become a money-making tool for major corporations," and declared, "We will not tolerate acts that damage, insult, or exploit the spirit of May 18 for profit." She also pointed out that, "Under current law, it is difficult to punish acts of insult or mockery," and pledged to push for a legal amendment to ensure that not only the distribution of false information related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising, but also acts of insult, can be punished.

Bae also criticized the People Power Party, saying, "They have continuously refused to participate in a vote for a constitutional amendment to include the spirit of May 18 in the preamble," and claimed, "This is a symbolic scene showing that the insurrection has not yet ended."

Independent candidate Koo Bonki also held an emergency press conference at the Gwangju City Council on the same day, declaring, "'May 18 Tank Day' is a serious insult to the citizens of Gwangju and the spirit of May 18," and insisted that a 'May 18 Insult Punishment Act' must be urgently introduced.

Koo stated, "The current May 18 Distortion Punishment Act only targets the distribution of false information, making it difficult to punish acts of defamation, insult, or mockery," and argued, "The law must be strengthened so that all acts that insult or disparage May 18 can be punished." He also proposed a Starbucks boycott, stating, "Responsibility must be taken for insulting the spirit of May 18 and the sovereign people."

Promotional image for the "Tank Day" event held by Starbucks Korea on May 18, the anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The image includes phrases like "Plop on the desk!" and information about discounted sales of items such as the "Colorful Tank Tumbler Set" and the "Tank Duo Set." The event sparked controversy as it was criticized for evoking memories of the martial law troops' crackdown during the May 18 uprising.

Meanwhile, the controversy began when Starbucks Korea held the 'Tank Day' event on May 18, the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Starbucks sold items such as the "Tank Duo Set" and the "Colorful Tank Tumbler Set," and further fueled controversy by using the promotional phrase "Plop it on the desk."

Criticism spread both in the Gwangju region and online communities, with people pointing out that the event evoked memories of the military suppression and armed forces during the May 18 incident. Some also noted that the phrase "Plop it on the desk" recalled the police statement, "He died after a 'plop' on the desk," which was made during the 1987 torture and death case of activist Park Jongcheol.

As the controversy intensified, Chong Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, issued a public apology on May 19, stating, "This was inappropriate marketing that should not have happened and cannot be justified," and added, "I bow my head in apology to the spirits of the victims of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, their bereaved families, and to the people." Major international media outlets such as the BBC and The Guardian also gave prominent coverage to the controversy and the subsequent dismissal of the CEO of Starbucks Korea.

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