Starbucks "5·18 Tank Day" Controversy... Chairman Chung Yongjin Reported to Police

Civic Group Files Police Complaint Against Chairman Chung and Former CEO Sohn

"Evokes Park Jongcheol Torture Case... Highly Inappropriate"

Chung Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, and Sohn Jeonghyun, former CEO of Starbucks Korea, have been reported to the police in connection with the controversy over Starbucks' "5·18 Tank Day" promotion.

On May 20, the civic group People's Livelihood Countermeasure Committee filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, requesting that Chairman Chung and former CEO Sohn be punished on charges of insult and defamation.

A Starbucks store in downtown Seoul on the 19th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On May 18, Starbucks Korea held a promotional event for its "Tank Tumbler Set" through its application, using phrases such as "5·18 Tank Day" and "Tak! on the desk" in the event description.

The civic group argued that these phrases evoke memories of the deployment of armored vehicles by martial law forces during the 5·18 Democratization Movement, as well as the police statement during the 1987 Park Jongcheol torture and death case: "He died after the desk was hit with a 'tak' sound." They further stated, "This is a highly inappropriate event that constitutes insult and defamation against the 5·18 Democratization Movement, its bereaved families, and the citizens of Gwangju." The group also emphasized that, "As this unethical act has caused social confusion, a swift and thorough investigation and strict punishment are necessary."

Regarding Chairman Chung's apology the previous day, in which he called it "an inappropriate marketing activity that should never have happened and cannot be tolerated," the civic group criticized it as "nothing more than a remedy after the fact."

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