Starbucks Korea Under Investigation by Seoul Police Over "Tank Day" Promotion Controversy
Starbucks Korea is embroiled in a major controversy for a promotional event for "Tank tumblers" held on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. The campaign, which used the term "Tank Day," drew widespread condemnation for evoking the military vehicles used to suppress the pro-democracy movement. The head of Starbucks Korea has been dismissed, and Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, which operates the coffee chain, is now under investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's metropolitan investigation division following a complaint by a civic group.
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(CNA, Seoul, May 21) Starbucks Korea has caused a major uproar for promoting a series of tumblers known as "tanks" on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group which operates Starbucks Korea, has also been reported by a civic group and will be investigated by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Division.
During the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement, students and civilians rose up against military rule, but the army violently suppressed the movement within 10 days, causing numerous casualties. On the 18th, the anniversary, Starbucks Korea used the term "Tank Day" to promote a line of cups called "Tank tumblers," which reminded people of the military vehicles deployed to crush the uprising at the time. This sparked widespread condemnation, and the head of Starbucks Korea, Son Jeong-hyeon, was also dismissed.
According to a Yonhap News report today, the civic group "Committee for the Livelihood of the Common People" also filed a complaint regarding the incident. The group argues that Starbucks selling the "Tank tumbler series" and using marketing phrases like "Tank Day" on the 46th anniversary of the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement is an insult and defamation to the bereaved families of the movement and the citizens of Gwangju.
Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, the largest shareholder of Starbucks Korea, was also reported for lack of management and supervision. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has reassigned the case, originally allocated to the Gangnam Police Station, to the Public Crime Investigation Team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Division. This division is considered comparable to the prosecution's "special investigation department."
The report notes that with the case now under direct investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the investigation is expected to proceed more quickly.
During the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement, students and civilians rose up against military rule, but the army violently suppressed the movement within 10 days, causing numerous casualties. On the 18th, the anniversary, Starbucks Korea used the term "Tank Day" to promote a line of cups called "Tank tumblers," which reminded people of the military vehicles deployed to crush the uprising at the time. This sparked widespread condemnation, and the head of Starbucks Korea, Son Jeong-hyeon, was also dismissed.
According to a Yonhap News report today, the civic group "Committee for the Livelihood of the Common People" also filed a complaint regarding the incident. The group argues that Starbucks selling the "Tank tumbler series" and using marketing phrases like "Tank Day" on the 46th anniversary of the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement is an insult and defamation to the bereaved families of the movement and the citizens of Gwangju.
Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, the largest shareholder of Starbucks Korea, was also reported for lack of management and supervision. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has reassigned the case, originally allocated to the Gangnam Police Station, to the Public Crime Investigation Team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Division. This division is considered comparable to the prosecution's "special investigation department."
The report notes that with the case now under direct investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the investigation is expected to proceed more quickly.
FAQ
韓國星巴克為何引發爭議？
因為在光州民主化運動紀念日（5月18日）當天，以「坦克日」（Tank Day）為名促銷保溫杯，令人聯想到當年鎮壓民主運動的軍用坦克，因而引發撻伐。
此事件對韓國星巴克造成了什麼後果？
韓國星巴克負責人孫正賢遭解僱，公司及最大股東新世界集團會長鄭溶鎭正接受警方調查。
是誰對此事件提出檢舉？
由市民團體「庶民民生對策委員會」提出檢舉，他們認為此舉是對民主化運動遺屬及光州市民的侮辱與名譽毀損。
目前調查進度如何？
案件已從江南警察署移交至首爾警察廳廣域搜查隊的公共犯罪搜查隊，該單位被視為精英部隊，預計將加快偵辦速度。
新世界集團會長鄭溶鎭為何也被檢舉？
他作為韓國星巴克最大股東，因被認為疏於管理與監督，未能防止此次不當行銷事件的發生，因此一同遭到檢舉。