Seoul Gangnam Police Station is investigating a case in which Chung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, and former SCK Company CEO Son Jeong-hyeon were accused in connection with the controversy over Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" promotion.
According to police and others on the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency assigned the case to the Gangnam Police Station that day. The civic group People's Livelihood Countermeasures Committee (Seominwi) the previous day filed a complaint accusing Chairman Chung and former CEO Son of insult and defamation.
The issue arose as Starbucks, in the process of selling its "tank tumbler series" on the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, used phrases such as "Tank Day" and "Clack on the desk!"
Seominwi said the expressions were "highly inappropriate, evoking the deployment of martial law troops' tanks during the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the torture and death case of Park Jong-cheol," and argued that they "constitute insult and defamation against the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the bereaved families, and Gwangju citizens."
It added that "(Chairman Chung and former CEO Son) issued an apology, but they cannot avoid responsibility for negligence in supervising and managing employees," and said, "They must be sternly punished through a swift and thorough investigation."
In an apology on the 19th, Chairman Chung said, "This matter is an inexcusable wrongdoing that made light of the pain and sacrifice of all those who have dedicated themselves to this country's democracy," and added, "On behalf of the group, I bow my head and apologize."
Shinsegae Group dismissed former CEO Son and decided to reexamine the group-level decision-making system and the review procedures for marketing content. It also said it would conduct history and ethics education for all current and former employees.