Police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters over 'Tank Day' fiasco

South Korean authorities raided Starbucks Korea's headquarters on Wednesday to investigate the company over accusations of defamation stemming from a marketing campaign dubbed "Tank Day". In May, Starbucks Korea launched a tumbler promotion on the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, an event where hundreds of civilians purportedly perished at the hands of military forces.

The campaign sparked widespread outrage and a mass boycott, as many perceived the reference to the "tank" as a symbol of oppression against pro-democracy protesters during the military dictatorship. Starbucks swiftly pulled the promotion, claiming it was unintentional. However, civic groups filed a criminal complaint, requesting a police investigation for defaming the victims.

Starbucks parent company Shinsegae Group stated they conducted an internal inquiry and concluded the error was unintentional, adding that the marketing team overlooked the historical connotations. Following the backlash, Starbucks stores nationwide closed for half a day in June to enable staff to participate in history lessons. The controversy resulted in a significant decline in Starbucks sales, one of the company's most lucrative markets in South Korea.