Police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters over 'Tank Day' fiasco

South Korean police conducted a raid on the headquarters of Starbucks Korea in connection with the controversial “Tank Day” promotion that sparked accusations of defaming victims of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. The coffee chain launched the tumbler promotion in May, scheduling it on the anniversary of the uprising during which hundreds of civilians are believed to have been killed by security forces. Critics argued that the use of a tank image evoked the armored vehicles deployed to suppress pro‑democracy protesters, prompting a widespread boycott. Starbucks quickly withdrew the promotion, describing the incident as unintentional. Civic organizations subsequently filed a defamation complaint, urging authorities to examine whether the campaign vilified those who suffered under the former military dictatorship. Shinsegae Group, the local operator of Starbucks, said it had launched an internal investigation and concluded the error was unintentional. The review found that the team responsible for the promotion failed to consider its historical resonance and that senior oversight missed the issue. In June, Starbucks outlets across the country closed for half a day to allow employees to attend remedial training sessions. Shinsegae apologized for the “inappropriate marketing” and noted that the controversy had caused a noticeable drop in sales in South Korea, one of the brand’s largest markets. The company also announced the dismissal of its chief executive.