Starbucks Korea raided by police after ‘Tank Day’ campaign sparks public outrage
Starbucks Korea faced a police raid and public backlash following a marketing campaign that allegedly trivialized the 1980 Gwangju massacre and the 1987 pro-democracy movement. The company responded by canceling the promotion, dismissing its CEO, and mandating historical awareness training for all staff.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the severe reputational and legal risks corporations face when marketing campaigns inadvertently touch upon sensitive national historical traumas.
Protesters call for a boycott of Starbucks Korea outside the company’s headquarters in Seoul. Protesters call for a boycott of Starbucks Korea outside the company’s headquarters in Seoul. South Korea Starbucks Korea raided by police after ‘Tank Day’ campaign sparks public outrage Coffee chain has faced backlash over marketing promotion tied to anniversary of Gwangju massacre
Prefer the Guardian on Google South Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign accused of trivialising the country’s 1980s pro-democracy movement.
Investigators searched the building in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday. No further details were released, although South Korean media reported that officers also searched the homes of the Starbucks Korea executives.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in