South Korea Police Search Starbucks Korea HQ Over Investigation, Media Report Says
Police are examining whether the campaign insulted Gwangju uprising victims after public backlash forced Starbucks Korea to scrap the promotion and fire its local chief.
- On Wednesday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency raided Starbucks Korea's headquarters to investigate a marketing campaign that critics claimed insulted victims of South Korea's 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising.
- Launched in May, the controversial 'Tank Day' promotion offered tumbler discounts alongside the phrase 'Put it on the table with a sound of 'Tak!'' which evoked memories of military suppression of demonstrators.
- Investigators are examining whether company officials intentionally planned the event to insult democracy movement members after a civic group filed a defamation complaint against Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.
- Starbucks Korea fired CEO Son Jung-hyun and Chairman Chung issued apologies, while the company closed its more than 2,000 stores nationwide for mandatory social-sensitivity training.
- Consumer brands operating in South Korea face significant risks navigating the country's historically sensitive political landscape, as this corporate crisis demonstrates.
34 Articles
34 Articles
The South Korean police carried out a search and seizure operation in Starbucks Korea's offices on Wednesday as part of the investigation into an advertising campaign launched by the company on the anniversary of the Gwangju Revolution, pro-democracy movement repressed by the military dictatorship in 1980. The action takes place after the local operator of the network is accused of defaming the dead and their families. Interrupted operations: Ai…
The brand launched on May 18 a promotion called "Tanque Day" coinciding with the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising, demonstrations in which 165 civilians died.
The Starbucks brand launched a publicity campaign called "tank day" for 18 May. "Tank" can be translated as "goblet", for this campaign on reusable cups, but also "chars". However, on 18 May coincides with the 46th anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju, mated in blood by tanks. The police searched the siege of Starbucks.
South Korean police have raided Starbucks' Korean headquarters in Seoul following an investigation into a controversial marketing campaign. On May 18, the coffee chain launched a special promotion called 'Tank Day,' promoting a 'tank coffee cup.' The name and date of the campaign were met with strong disapproval in the country. That day in 1980 marked the beginning of a historic popular uprising in which citizens and students protested against…
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