A Starbucks outlet stands at Starbucks Korea's headquarters in Seoul's Gangnam Ward, South Korea, 05 August 2026. Police searched the headquarters as part of an investigation into allegations that the company's controversial 'Tank Day' marketing campaign insulted and defamed victims of the military suppression of the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising in 1980. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Aug. 5 (Asia Today) -- South Korean police raided Starbucks Korea's headquarters Wednesday as part of an investigation into allegations that its controversial "Tank Day" promotion insulted people recognized for their role in the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising.
Investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency began searching the company's headquarters in the Centerfield building in Seoul's Gangnam district at about 8:50 a.m.
The search warrant listed suspected insult and other offenses, according to police. It was the first police raid of Starbucks Korea in connection with the promotion.
Starbucks Korea launched the online campaign May 18, the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising, to promote a line of stainless-steel tumblers called "Tank."
