Despite ‘Tank Day’ Controversy, Gwangju Schools Purchased Starbucks Gift Certificates

Office of Education Vows to Prevent Similar Incidents

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education protested against Starbucks Korea, mentioning a potential boycott over the company’s disparagement of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. However, it has come to light that some schools had purchased Starbucks gift certificates using public funds.

On the 21st, at a press conference condemning Starbucks Korea held in front of the Emart Gwangju store in Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, Starbucks tumblers and cups were left broken and dented. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to Citizens’ Solidarity for a Society Without Discrimination by Academic Background on the 21st, Gwangju High School A purchased 11 Starbucks gift certificates worth a total of 330,000 won on May 19, after the controversy over Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” campaign, as birthday gifts for faculty members for the second quarter of the 2026 academic year.

Another middle school in Gwangju, School B, purchased six Starbucks gift certificates worth 10,000 won each for Teachers’ Day, as part of a faculty appreciation and wellness initiative.

After Starbucks Korea’s “518 Tank Day” promotional event came under heavy criticism for distorting history and denying the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education sent a letter of protest to Starbucks Korea demanding an official apology and measures to prevent recurrence. The office also stated that if Starbucks failed to take genuine action, it would consider excluding the company from official partnership programs.

Nevertheless, some schools in the Gwangju area proceeded to purchase Starbucks gift certificates for faculty birthday celebrations or Teachers’ Day events.

A representative of the civic group pointed out, “Last year, the city’s education office was criticized for running advertisements with an online outlet that denied or distorted the May 18 Uprising. The office later apologized and blocked the outlet. If similar insensitivity to historical issues is repeating itself, it cannot be dismissed as a simple mistake by individual schools.”

In response, an official from the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education explained, “For the case cited, High School A had only received approval for the planned purchase of faculty birthday gift certificates for the second quarter, and the actual purchase of Starbucks gift certificates had not taken place. As for Middle School B, the purchase for Teachers’ Day was made before this controversy and the approval was completed before the 18th. We will be more attentive to ensure that similar cases do not occur at schools in the future.”

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