Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin bows as he delivers an apology on May 26 at the Josun Palace hotel in Gangnam District, Seoul, over the controversy surrounding Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” promotion. [KIM KYUNG-ROK]
Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin has publicly apologized over the controversy surrounding Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” marketing campaign linked to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Chung addressed bereaved families of victims of the May 18 uprising, the family of democracy activist Park Jong-chul, citizens of Gwangju and the public, saying, “I sincerely bow my head in apology and ask for your forgiveness.” He added that he would offer “no excuses” and that all responsibility rested with him.
The controversy escalated after President Lee Jae Myung publicly criticized Starbucks Korea, accusing the company of belittling the May 18 movement. The issue stemmed from promotional materials for a tumbler event held on the 18th that included a phrase associated with online groups that mock the Gwangju uprising.
Shinsegae said an internal investigation found no evidence that the campaign had been deliberately designed to insult the movement. The company added that if a police investigation later confirms intentional misconduct, the employees involved would be immediately dismissed and held both civilly and criminally accountable.
