President Lee Jae-myung sharply criticized Starbucks' "Tank Day" event.
According to political circles and others on the 18th, the president said on social media (SNS) that day, "I am outraged at the inhumane, bottom-of-the-barrel conduct of these low-grade hucksters who deny the values of the Korea community, basic human rights, and democracy."
Aimed at Tank Day, the tumbler promotion event run since the 15th by Shinsegae Group SCK Company (Starbucks Korea), the president stressed that it "insulted the blood-stained struggle of Gwangju citizens."
Earlier, SCK Company used phrases such as "Tank Day" and "a thud on the desk" while running the tumbler promotion event. In particular, the event overlapped with the May 18 Democratization Movement anniversary, fueling criticism that it insulted Gwangju.
The president said, "How many lives were unjustly lost, and how grave was the damage to justice and history, that they would do this out of what kind of resentment," adding, "Did you apologize to the May 18 bereaved families and victims?"
As the controversy grew, Shinsegae Group, the parent company of SCK Company, abruptly dismissed CEO Son Jeong-hyeon on the evening of the same day. Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin was reported to have personally ordered heavy disciplinary action against the Tank Day marketing manager and those involved.
Shinsegae Group said, "Chairman Chung Yong-jin ordered a thorough internal investigation and, at the same time, took the drastic step of dismissing the CEO," adding, "We will reestablish our work processes to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future."