▲ This file photo, taken Dec. 22, 2024, shows Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

police-Starbucks probe

Police step up probe into Shinsegae chief over Starbucks Korea's 'Tank Day' event

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- Police said Friday they were questioning a civic activist who filed a complaint against Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin over Starbucks Korea's controversial marketing campaign.

Kim Soon-hwan, secretary general of the People's Welfare Countermeasure Committee, appeared before the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's public crime investigation team to be questioned about the complaint filed Wednesday.

In the complaint, the civic group alleged that Chung and Son Jung-hyun, former head of Starbucks Korea, defamed and insulted victims of the May 18 pro-democracy movement in 1980 through the coffee franchise's "Tank Day" promotional event.

On Monday, Starbucks Korea, operated under Shinsegae in South Korea, launched the "tank" coffee tumbler promotion, which coincided with the anniversary of the May 18 democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

The marketing campaign was scrapped within hours of its launch following public backlash over the word "tank," which evoked painful memories of the military deploying tanks to clamp down on pro-democracy protesters.

Its promotional material also featured the phrase, "Put it on the table with a sound of 'Tak!'" The word "Tak" sparked backlash, as it reminded people of student activist Park Jong-chol, who died in 1987 after being tortured.

Chung issued a public apology over the event Tuesday, a day after dismissing Son, who headed SCK Co., which operates under Shinsegae affiliate E-mart.

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