Story perspectives

President Lee Demands Apology for Starbucks ‘Tank Day’ Gwangju Insult

5/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Lee Jae Myung called Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” promotion a “degenerate peddler” and demanded an apology to Gwangju victims.
Shinsegae Group apologized, pledged to review approval processes, and its chairman Chung Yong-jin bowed and expressed remorse.
Starbucks Korea launched “Tank Day” campaign on May 18, promoted a “Tank” tumbler with tagline “put it on table with ‘Tak’”, and dismissed Sohn Jeong-hyun after outrage over reference to 1980 Gwangju Uprising.

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Story summary

President Lee Jae Myung called Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” promotion a “degenerate peddler” and demanded an apology to Gwangju victims.
Shinsegae Group apologized, pledged to review approval processes, and its chairman Chung Yong-jin bowed and expressed remorse.
Starbucks Korea launched “Tank Day” campaign on May 18, promoted a “Tank” tumbler with tagline “put it on table with ‘Tak’”, and dismissed Sohn Jeong-hyun after outrage over reference to 1980 Gwangju Uprising.