South Korea police raid Starbucks HQ over 'Tank Day' fiasco
A Starbucks sign is seen outside the coffee company's global corporate headquarters, May 11, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
South Korean police raided the Starbucks national headquarters on Aug. 5, the chain's local operator told AFP, following allegations an advertising campaign defamed activists slain in 1980 pro-democracy protests.
Starbucks Korea caused an uproar this year when it launched a "Tank Day" promotion on May 18, touting a new line of capacious tumblers for its coffee beverages.
The date marked the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising, when at least 165 civilians were killed as a military dictatorship rolled tanks out onto the streets.
