Police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters over controversial "Tank Day" promotion

South Korean police conducted a raid at the national headquarters of Starbucks Korea on Monday, following a wave of criticism that tied the popular coffee chain’s new tumbler promotion to the memory of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising.

The "Tank Day" campaign, launched in May, offered a branded tumblers featuring a tank icon and the phrase "tak on the table!" The tank was interpreted by many as a reference to the military vehicles that suppressed pro‑democracy protestors, triggering accusations that the promotion defamed victims of a brutal dictatorship.

Civic groups filed a criminal complaint demanding police investigate the company for defamation. In response, Starbucks Korea, operated by the Shinsegae Group, announced an internal investigation and apologized for what it called "unintentional" marketing. It also issued statements that the team who conceived the promotion had no awareness of its historical connotation, and senior management had failed to spot the issue.

As part of the response, Starbucks stores nationwide closed for half a day in June to allow staff to attend history lessons. The company further sacked its chief executive and publicly acknowledged that sales had suffered significantly in South Korea, one of the chain’s largest markets.

The incident has transcended business and entered the political arena. President Lee Jae‑myung condemned the promotion, describing it as an insult to Gwangju victims, while opposition leaders used a Starbucks cup as a symbol of resistance against the government. The coffee chain has since been seen in right‑wing rallies and livestreams as a talking point in the capital’s polarized political landscape.

For full coverage of Starbucks Korea’s fallout, read the article on the CEO’s dismissal here, and the temporary store closures for staff history lessons here.