President Lee Jae-myung, referring to recent advertisements by some corporations that disparaged the pro-democracy movement, said, "It's not a few individuals drinking in a corner and mouthing off. In an open venue, responsible figures are committing such atrocities in an organized, systematic way," adding, "How can that be called a human society?"
At a Cabinet meeting that afternoon, Lee said, "For a community to function properly, it must respect appropriate lines," adding, "There are standards such as morality and common sense, contracts and laws, and the Criminal Act, but above all, the most important is the line of common sense. There is a 'golden rule' that must not be crossed."
Citing the Gwangju May 18 pro-democracy movement in particular, Lee said, "Acts that cross the line are not so much a serious problem in themselves as they are harmful to others and to society," noting that "expressions about May 18 in Gwangju or about horrific victims, and things that make you wonder how someone in human guise could do that, happen quite often." He added, "Even if something is not subject to physical sanctions defined by the Criminal Act, should it be done?" and "There are human ethics and morals required of people."
◇ Starbucks marks May 18 with 'tank day,' Musinsa once used "a bang on the desk and a groan"
Starbucks Korea, operated by Shinsegae Group, came under fire recently for using phrases that appeared to mock the May 18 pro-democracy movement and the June 10 pro-democracy uprising while running a "tank day" event. It designated May 18 as "tank day" and used the phrase "bang on the desk!" in its promotional materials. During the May 18, 1980 uprising, the martial law forces deployed tanks to suppress the citizen militia, and in the 1987 torture-death case of student activist Park Jong-cheol, police tried to conceal the cause of death by saying, "With a 'bang,' he collapsed with a 'groan.'"
A 2019 ad by the fashion platform Musinsa also resurfaced. At the time, Musinsa used the phrase "After a quick-dry bang on the desk, it dried with a groan" alongside a photo of slipper-style socks in a promotional card news item.
In response, President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "I am outraged by the inhumane, bottom-of-the-barrel behavior of these low-grade hucksters who deny the values of the Korean community, basic human rights, and democracy," adding, "Corresponding moral, administrative, legal, and political responsibility must be imposed. Have you apologized to the May 18 victims?" Aiming at Musinsa as well, he said, "Money may be the devil, but how can someone in human guise do this?"