South Korean police have raided the national headquarters of Starbucks over defamation claims related to a controversial marketing campaign. The promotion, dubbed "Tank Day," was launched in May on the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a period when hundreds were believed to have been killed by military forces.
Civic groups filed a criminal complaint against Starbucks Korea, alleging the "Tank Day" promotion defamed victims of the military dictatorship. Many South Koreans interpreted the term "tank" as a reference to military vehicles used to suppress pro-democracy protesters, which led to a widespread boycott movement.
Starbucks Korea quickly withdrew the promotion, stating it was unintentional. Shinsegae Group, the operator of Starbucks in Korea, launched an internal investigation that concluded the campaign was an oversight. According to the company, the team responsible for planning the promotion did not draw a connection to the historical event, and upper management also failed to identify the issue.
In response to the controversy, Starbucks stores across South Korea closed for half a day in June to allow staff to attend history lessons. Shinsegae issued an apology for the "inappropriate marketing," acknowledging that the "Tank Day" incident resulted in a significant decline in Starbucks sales in South Korea, a major market for the coffee chain. The company also dismissed its chief executive officer following the incident.