{
  "id": 162571,
  "title": "Police raid Starbucks Korea’s headquarters in Seoul over ‘Tank Day’ event",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/police-raid-starbucks-koreas-headquarters-in-seoul-over-tank-day-event",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-05T05:43:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/05/asia-pacific/crime-legal/south-korea-starbucks-headquarters-tank/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Police raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea in Seoul as part of an investigation into allegations that the company's \"Tank Day\" promotion defamed victims of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising. The promotion, which launched on May 18, featured large tumblers and sparked outrage as it coincided with the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising, in which at least 165 civilians were killed by a military dictatorship.\n\nA civic group and bereaved families had filed a complaint against Shinsegae Group, which operates Starbucks Korea, accusing them of defaming and insulting the victims and relatives. The complaint named Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin.\n\nThe Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency conducted the raid, which was part of an ongoing investigation into the firm. According to Yonhap News, police identified shortcomings in Starbucks Korea's internal inspection into the controversial campaign and are investigating whether company officials planned the event with the intent to insult those involved in the pro-democracy movement.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(URGENT) Police raid Starbucks over controversial promotional event",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/urgent-police-raid-starbucks-over-controversial-promotional-event",
        "published": "2026-08-05T00:15:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "South Korea: Police raid Starbucks HQ over 'Tank Day' fiasco",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/05/south-korea-police-raid-starbucks-hq-over-tank-day-fiasco",
        "published": "2026-08-05T08:13:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "South Korea police raid Starbucks HQ over 'Tank Day' fiasco",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/south-korea-police-raid-starbucks-hq-over-tank-day-fiasco",
        "published": "2026-08-06T08:36:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "South Korea police raid football association over Hong appointment process",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/south-korea-police-raid-football-association-over-hong-appointment",
        "published": "2026-08-06T09:34:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}