Organizations related to the May 18 pro-democracy movement said on the 18th that they sent a letter to Starbucks headquarters calling for the release of the investigation results and follow-up explanations on the "Tank Day" incident.

Civic group officials, including People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and the Gwangju Council of Civil Society Organizations, hold a press conference in front of the National Pension Service Seoul Northern Branch Office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, submitting a statement urging the National Pension Service to exercise its stewardship responsibilities regarding E-MART and Starbucks Korea. /Courtesy of News1

The May 18 Memorial Foundation, the May 18 Democratic Merit Bereaved Families Association, the May 18 Democratic Movement Wounded Association, and the May 18 Democratic Movement Contributors Association said, "Since its apology, Starbucks headquarters has not provided specific investigation results or follow-up explanations," and stated accordingly.

They said, "This is not a simple marketing mistake but a problem with the internal decision-making structure of corporations and the review system for historical and human rights sensitivity," adding, "Disclose the planning and approval process for the disputed phrases and whether they were reported to management."

They also argued that "Starbucks headquarters must disclose the basis for describing this issue as While unitentional."

Earlier, SCK Company, which operates Starbucks in Korea, sparked controversy after using the phrases "Tank Day" and "a sharp rap on the desk" in a tumbler sales event ahead of the May 18 pro-democracy movement memorial day.

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