Members of organizations associated with the May 18 Democratization Movement smash Starbucks mugs and tumblers during a protest outside the coffee chain’s stores in an E-Mart superstore in the city on May 21, 2026. (Kim Yong-hee/Hankyoreh)
Civic groups in South Jeolla Province and Gwangju have jumped into action, alleging that Shinsegae Group, the parent company of Starbucks Korea, failed to provide a clear account of the coffee chain’s “Tank Day” debacle, which ignited public fury for appearing to mock the 1980 uprising and massacre in Gwangju.At a protest Thursday outside a Starbucks branch at an E-Mark in Gwangju’s Seo District, representatives of a combined 143 local organizations condemned Starbucks Korea and its parent conglomerate over the incident and demanded the resignation of Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.Groups including the Gwangju Council of Citizens’ Movement, May 18 Foundation and the Citizens Association on Imperial Japan’s Forced Labor Mobilization all took part in the protest and press conference.“Shinsegae Group and Starbucks Korea, recognizing the gravity of the situation, quickly issued an apology and dismissed the [Starbucks Korea] CEO, but this is just the typical scapegoating to deflect attention from the core issue and avoid responsibility,” a spokesman for the groups said. “We want the real culprit, Chairman Chung Yong-jin, to resign.”The abrupt firing of Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun without first investigating the incident is seen as a face-saving measure to deflect criticism from the chairman.“The group chairman’s management philosophy and the company’s internal organizational culture undoubtedly had a major influence on the formulation of a marketing strategy that intricately combined two tragedies in our democratization history within numerous decision-making systems,” the groups said. “Chung previously caused public outrage due to his comments about ‘eradicating communists.’ He must stop hiding behind Son and immediately resign from management,” they went on.The groups called for a criminal investigation rather than an internal inquiry, arguing that an internal probe would likely downplay or cover up the incident.To prevent a recurrence, they suggested amending laws such as the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement and meting out tougher disciplinary measures so that not only individuals but also companies and institutions can be held judicially and economically liable for desecration of history. Civil group members also expressed their anger at the news conference by smashing Starbucks tumblers.“We the people propose an all-out boycott of Starbucks,” the spokesman said. “If our demands aren’t met, we will expand our campaign of driving out Starbucks to a full-scale boycott of the Gwangcheon Terminal and Eodeungsan Tourism Complex development projects as well as Shinsegae Group.”Shinsegae Property is pursuing the shopping mall venture Grand Starfield Gwangju at Eodeungsan Tourist Complex in Gwangju, while the Gwangju branch of Shinsegae Department Store, a separate entity, is using the Great Gwangju project to expand U-Square Bus Terminal in Gwangju and vicinity into a large futuristic commercial, residential and transit hub.The Gwangju city government also broke its silence with a statement three days after the controversy erupted. “We consider this not a simple mistake by a working-level employee, but a social catastrophe caused by a CEO who lacks awareness of history,” the city said. “We will continue to not only push for the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the preamble of the Constitution without interruption, but also rectify the limitations of the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement, which merely punishes the dissemination of false information,” the statement said. The city urged the National Assembly to increase the scope of punishable acts and severity of punishment to at least the level of the amendment bill proposed in 2020.The bill proposes expanding Article 8 of the law banning the dissemination of false information on the incident into a provision prohibiting denial, defamation, distortion, fabrication or spread of misinformation. It also wants to toughen the punishment from up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won to seven years and 70 million won.The city government has also stopped using Starbucks gift certificates and similar items as prizes for events.The three legally designated organizations for the May 18 Democratization Movement — the May 18th Bereaved Families Association, May 18 Memorial Injured and May 18 Meritorious Persons — will continue their protests Friday with a silent demonstration in front of E-Mart’s Gwangju branch.By Kim Yong-hee, Gwangju correspondentPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
