Seoul Jazz Festival Removes Starbucks Booth Amid May 18 Disparagement Controversy
Booth Operation Canceled for May 22-24 Event
Notice from Seoul Jazz Festival on Starbucks Booth Non-Operation. Seoul Jazz Festival Instagram
View original imageStarbucks, which recently became embroiled in controversy for disparaging the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, will not operate its planned booth at the Seoul Jazz Festival, a music event scheduled for May 22 to 24.
On May 20, the event organizer Private Curve posted an official notice on its social networking service (SNS), stating this information and asking for the audience's understanding.
The organizers did not provide a specific reason for the cancellation. However, there is speculation that the move reflects sensitivity to the audience's backlash following Starbucks' recent controversy involving the May 18 Democratization Movement.
On May 18, the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement, Starbucks held a "Tank Day" event that invoked images of military tanks. The promotional materials also included the phrase "A bang on the desk." The event drew intense criticism for allegedly disparaging both the deployment of martial law troops during the May 18, 1980 period and the 1987 torture and death of student activist Park Jongcheol.
As a boycott campaign spread online, Starbucks suspended the event. Chung Yongjin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, and the Starbucks headquarters in the United States issued apologies, and the CEO of Starbucks Korea was dismissed in an effort to resolve the situation.
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The controversy over the disparagement of the May 18 movement has also spilled over into the entertainment industry. On May 19, singer Harim revealed a direct message (DM) in which an internet user referred to the May 18 Democratization Movement as a riot, expressing strong displeasure. He publicly stated that he is a bereaved family member and strongly criticized the message as a clear example of secondary victimization.
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