Tank Day controversy spreads; Korean actor quits musical after posting Starbucks photo
The "Tank Day" controversy involving Starbucks Korea continues to escalate. Musical actor Jung Min-chan withdrew from his current production after facing backlash for posting a photo of himself with Starbucks coffee on social media. Despite claiming ignorance of current events, his apology was criticized as insincere.
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- 📰 Published: May 23, 2026 at 13:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 23, 2026 at 13:31 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 31, 2026 at 20:58 (199h 26m after Collected)
Starbucks Korea faced widespread backlash for holding a "Tank Day" promotion for tank-themed tumblers on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, which reminded many of the military vehicles used to suppress the movement. Musical actor Jung Min-chan was criticized after posting a photo of himself at Starbucks on social media shortly after the controversy began. Jung explained that he was busy with daily life and unaware of the news, but his apology was deemed insincere by many netizens. His production company, Showplay, announced that Jung would withdraw from the musical "Diaghilev" following discussions.
FAQ
Why did Starbucks face backlash in South Korea?
The company launched a tank-themed promotion on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, which was criticized as insensitive to history.