Police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters over Tank Day defamation probe

South Korean police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters over ‘Tank Day’ controversy

Police searched the national headquarters of Starbucks Korea after a criminal complaint accused the company of defaming victims of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising with a promotional campaign called “Tank Day,” which launched in May and was quickly withdrawn amid public outrage.

Shinsegae Group, which operates Starbucks in Korea, said an internal investigation found the promotion was unintentional and that the planning team and senior management failed to recognise the historical sensitivity. The company apologised for the “inappropriate marketing,” closed stores for staff history lessons in June and dismissed its chief executive amid a sharp sales decline.

Critics noted the tumbler promotion used the phrase “tak on the table!” and produced imagery interpreted by many as referencing the tanks used during the Gwangju crackdown. Civic groups filed a criminal complaint seeking a police inquiry into alleged defamation of victims of the military dictatorship.

President Lee Jae Myung publicly criticised the campaign, saying it insulted Gwangju residents and their struggle, while political debate over the issue intensified during the local election season. Since the controversy, Starbucks cups have at times been used as a symbol by right-wing commentators and at rallies.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

The complaint prompted a formal police investigation and a raid on Starbucks Korea’s headquarters. The company’s internal review, apologies, staff training measure and chief executive’s dismissal are documented responses noted in the original reports. Public and political reactions, including the president’s comments and the campaign’s symbolic adoption by some groups, are reported outcomes from the controversy.

Quick Glance: What You Need to Know

• Police searched Starbucks Korea’s national headquarters over a criminal complaint on the “Tank Day” promotion.
• Shinsegae Group concluded the campaign was an unintentional error and apologised while dismissing the chief executive.
• The promotion’s wording and imagery were widely seen as referencing the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, prompting public boycott and political criticism.