Singer JK Kim Dong-wook supported Starbucks, which was embroiled in controversy over the "Tank Day" marketing.
On the 26th, JK Kim Dong-wook posted on his SNS story "I don't usually go there, so why make me want to go there when it's annoying" along with a photo publicly supporting Starbucks.
The posted photo showed the Starbucks brand mark along with the phrases "I go if I want to go" and "Choice is free."
Starbucks Korea sold the "Tank Tumbler Series" through its application on May 18 and used phrases such as "Tank Day" and "Plop it on the desk!", which sparked controversy. Numerous netizens and civic groups pointed out that it evoked the deployment of armored tanks by martial law forces during the May 18 pro-democracy movement and the 1987 torture death of Park Jong-chul, and Starbucks Korea deleted the related posts. Shinsegae chairman Chung Yong-jin also apologized, saying, "It was inappropriate marketing that should not have happened and cannot be tolerated," and promised to prevent recurrence.
Nonetheless, the so-called "tal-buck" boycott of Starbucks has continued, while some supporters of certain political parties have been backing Starbucks. In the entertainment world, actor Choi Jun-yong recently supported Starbucks, and JK Kim Dong-wook also joined. They have been vocal supporters of former president Yoon Suk-yeol.
Meanwhile, regarding the "Tank Day" controversy, Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin apologized on the morning of the 26th, saying, "We will fundamentally reexamine our internal systems and risk management framework and raise our standards for social responsibility. We will start over from the beginning to create real change through actions, not words, so that we can regain the trust of the people."
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