Seoul Police Launch Investigation into Chairman Chung Yongjin over Starbucks 'Tank Day' Controversy

Investigation Merged for Cases Against Chairman Chung Yongjin and Former CEO Son Junghyun

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has launched an investigation into the controversy surrounding Starbucks Korea's 'May 18 Tank Day' promotion.

Shin 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 18th Democratic Uprising. Photo by Yonhap News

On May 21, the police announced that the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will be investigating the case in which Chung Yong-jin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, and former Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun have been accused of insult and defamation.

The case was initially assigned to the Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Gangnam Police Station. However, as it was merged with the case involving former CEO Son filed with the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency's Nambu Police Station, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will now conduct the investigation.

The Civil Livelihood Countermeasure Committee, a civic group, filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against Chairman Chung and former CEO Son the previous day.

On May 18, Starbucks Korea sold a 'Tank Tumbler Set' through its application, using promotional phrases such as 'May 18 Tank Day' and 'A Bang on the Desk!'

The Civil Livelihood Countermeasure Committee argued that such expressions evoke memories of the deployment of armored vehicles by martial law troops during the May 18 Democratic Movement, as well as the statement made by the police in the 1987 torture and death case of Park Jongcheol: "He banged on the desk, and Park just died," claiming that this constitutes insult and defamation against the May 18 Democratic Movement, its bereaved families, and the citizens of Gwangju.

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