Amid the fallout from Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" promotion controversy, a boycott is spreading across the civil service. Following the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions for Public Officials, the Korean Government Employees' Union also moved to refrain from using Starbucks e-gift cards, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said they would stop using Starbucks products at government events.
According to government circles on the 22nd, the Korean Government Employees' Union sent a business notice to all chapters the previous day titled "Request to join the Starbucks boycott over hate marketing controversies, including disparagement of the May 18 Democratic Uprising."
In the document, the union said, "There are many cases where Starbucks gift certificates and e-gift cards are given as gifts to members or as event prizes," and added, "We propose that all chapters boycott (stop using) Starbucks, which trampled on democracy and human rights and distorted history."
The education office headquarters of the Korean Government Employees' Union also issued a statement the same day, saying, "We will stop using Starbucks going forward and will not purchase any Starbucks gift certificates or related products for union events and projects."
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions for Public Officials also decided not to use Starbucks e-gift cards for the time being. The confederation reportedly adopted a policy to refrain from using Starbucks e-gift cards after accepting a proposal made at a secretariat meeting on the 20th.
Government ministries are also responding.
Kwon O-eul, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, posted on X (formerly Twitter) the same day to express regret to Starbucks Korea and said the ministry would strengthen monitoring of the spread of false information related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is also said to have conducted a full review of cases over the past two to three years in which Starbucks products were used at its own events after this controversy, and issued internal guidance not to use them for the time being.
Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, said on X the previous day, "We express deep regret over the anti-historical behavior of Starbucks Korea," and said the government would not use Starbucks products at events.
Earlier, during a tumbler promotion held on the anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, Starbucks Korea used phrases such as "Tank Day" and "tak on the desk," drawing criticism for making light of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the torture and death of activist Park Jong-cheol.