South Korean police raid local Starbucks headquarters over controversial advertising campaign
- South Korean police raided the local headquarters of Starbucks as part of an investigation into a controversial marketing campaign.
- The campaign was perceived as defamatory towards pro-democracy movements from the 1980s.
- Starbucks attempted to promote stainless steel thermal cups called 'SS Tank' on May 18, which is the anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju.
- Public outrage led to the cancellation of the campaign and the dismissal of the CEO of Starbucks Korea.
- The police investigation was initiated following complaints from families of victims of the Gwangju repression.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police raided the local operation headquarters of Starbucks as part of an investigation into a controversial marketing campaign perceived as defamatory of pro-democracy movements from the 1980s.
Investigators searched Starbucks' headquarters in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police reported on Wednesday. The police did not provide further details, but South Korean media reported that investigators also visited the homes of Starbucks executives.
The coffee chain sparked public outrage when it attempted to promote a series of stainless steel thermal cups called 'SS Tank' by declaring May 18 as 'Tank Day.' This date marks the anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju, which was brutally suppressed by the military-backed rulers of South Korea at the time.
The campaign also used the slogan 'Hit it on the table!', which many interpreted as a reference to a notorious police statement from 1987 that attempted to cover up the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chol. Authorities falsely claimed that Park died after investigators 'hit the desk with a dry blow.'
Public indignation led Shinsegae Group, which owns a 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea, to cancel the campaign within hours. They also dismissed the CEO of Starbucks Korea. Shinsegae's president, Chung Yong-jin, later issued a televised apology.
韩国警方突袭当地星巴克总部，因广告活动引发争议
首尔，韩国（美联社）——韩国警方突袭了星巴克在当地的总部，作为对一项被认为对1980年代民主运动构成诽谤的有争议市场营销活动的调查的一部分。
警方报告称，调查人员于周二搜查了位于首尔南部的星巴克总部。警方没有提供更多细节，但韩国媒体报道称，调查人员还拜访了星巴克高管的住所。
当星巴克试图通过宣布5月18日为“坦克日”来推广一系列名为“SS坦克”的不锈钢保温杯时，引发了公众的愤怒。这个日期是光州民主运动的周年纪念，该运动在当时受到军方支持的统治者的残酷镇压。
该活动还使用了“击打桌子！”的口号，许多人将其解读为对1987年一项臭名昭著的警察声明的引用，该声明试图掩盖学生活动家朴钟哲的酷刑致死事件。有关当局错误地声称朴钟哲是在调查人员“干脆地击打桌子”后死亡的。
公众的愤怒导致持有67.5%股份的星巴克韩国母公司新世界集团在数小时内取消了该活动，并解雇了星巴克韩国的首席执行官。新世界集团的总裁郑勇镇随后发表了电视道歉。