South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae Myung has issued sharp criticism against Starbucks Korea following its controversial “Tank Day” promotional event, which coincided with the solemn anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.
In a widely shared post on X (formerly Twitter), Lee expressed outrage, stating, “On the historic anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, how could there be a ‘May 18 Tank Day’ event so brazenly mocking the bloodstained struggle of its victims and citizens?”
He further condemned the insensitivity, questioning, “How many innocent lives were unjustly lost that day, and how grave was the destruction of justice and history that followed? What could possibly have driven someone to do such a thing?” This powerful statement underscores the deep historical wounds the event reopened.
Lee Jae Myung unequivocally called for “appropriate moral, administrative, legal, and political responsibility” to be exacted, also probing whether Starbucks Korea had extended apologies to the bereaved families and victims of the tragic May 18 uprising.
The controversy originated from a Starbucks Korea tumbler promotion, which ran from May 15 to 26. The event notably featured promotional language, including the deeply offensive phrases “Tank Day” and “Bang on the Desk,” which were specifically highlighted on Sunday, May 18th.
These insensitive expressions quickly ignited widespread public backlash, as they were perceived to mock not only the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement – a pivotal moment in South Korean history – but also the 1987 torture death of student activist Park Jong-chul, a dark chapter in the nation’s struggle for democracy. In response to the growing outrage, Starbucks Korea swiftly suspended the promotion and issued an official apology attributed to CEO Son Jeong-hyun.
yunapark
