South Korean police raid local Starbucks headquarters over controversial marketing campaign
Summary
South Korean police raided Starbucks Korea’s headquarters to investigate a marketing campaign seen as disrespectful to a 1980 pro-democracy movement. The campaign included a product named “SS Tank” and used slogans that reminded many of police violence and government cover-ups from that time.Key Facts
- Police searched Starbucks Korea’s main office in Seoul and visited the homes of some executives.
- The campaign promoted stainless-steel tumblers called “SS Tank” and declared May 18 as “Tank Day.”
- May 18 marks the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising, which was violently suppressed by the military.
- The slogan “Thwack it on the table!” reminded people of a police statement used to hide the torture death of activist Park Jong-chol in 1987.
- Due to public anger, Shinsegae Group, the main owner of Starbucks Korea, canceled the campaign quickly and fired the Starbucks Korea CEO.
- The chairman of Shinsegae apologized publicly on TV.
- Starbucks Korea closed all stores for a day to provide history and social sensitivity training to employees.
- The investigation started after complaints from families of victims of the Gwangju crackdown, which killed around 200 people.
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