South Korean police raided the national headquarters of Starbucks following backlash over a marketing campaign named 'Tank Day' linked to the 1980 Gwangju Uprising.
The campaign, which featured a coffee tumbler that referenced military tanks on the anniversary of the uprising, sparked a mass boycott and accusations of defamation toward victims of the military dictatorship.
Starbucks Korea apologized and temporarily shut stores for half a day so staff could attend history lessons, while the company also dismissed its chief executive.
The incident has heightened political tension, with President Lee Jae‑Myung condemning the promotion and opposition leaders using Starbucks cups as symbols of protest against the government.
Internal investigations concluded the mistake was unintentional, but civic groups filed a criminal complaint demanding police investigation for defamation of victims.
