South Korean police raided Starbucks Korea’s Seoul headquarters after the coffee chain’s controversial ‘Tank Day’ promotion was condemned as insensitive.
The promotion, launched in May to mark the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, featured a coffee tumbler with a tank‑themed design and the slogan “Tank Day.” Many saw it as a reference to the military tanks that crushed pro‑democracy protests, sparking outrage.
The backlash triggered a nationwide boycott, led to the withdrawal of the promotion, and resulted in a criminal complaint accusing Starbucks of defaming the uprising’s victims.
Shinsegae, the operator of Starbucks in Korea, launched an internal investigation and said the team had no intention to draw a historical connection, yet senior management failed to spot it before launch.
The police raid follows other corporate actions: in June, all Starbucks stores in the country were closed for half a day to allow staff to attend history lessons, and the company has already dismissed its CEO amid mounting pressure and sales decline.
Political leaders have used the incident as a rallying point, with Starbucks cups now appearing in right‑wing rallies and livestreams as symbols of opposition to the current administration.
