South Korean police raid the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a controversial marketing campaign dubbed “Tank Day.” Multiple outlets report that complaints filed by the public accuse the coffee chain of trivializing or mocking the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy movement in South Korea that was violently suppressed during a military crackdown. The dispute centres on a promotional “Tank” tumbler range and related advertising, which critics said evoked imagery associated with the crackdown.
Reports state that the probe is widening beyond the initial controversy, with police conducting searches at the local operation’s offices. One outlet also says police questioned whether Starbucks’ internal investigation was thorough enough. The company faces significant backlash following the launch of the promotion on May 18, as criticism spreads nationwide. Police have not been described as assigning guilt, and the actions are framed as part of an ongoing investigation into the campaign’s content and potential wrongdoing under applicable laws or regulations.
