Starbucks Korea halted its online "Tank Day" promotion within hours and apologized after customers and civic groups said it caused distress on the May 18 anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju democracy movement.
The event had offered 10% to 21% discounts on a tumbler set named "Tank" and used the phrase "Tak!" — wording critics said echoed military tanks in Gwangju and a notorious phrase tied to activist Park Jong-chol's 1987 torture death.
A group representing victims and bereaved families of the Gwangju uprising accused the company of damaging the movement's spirit through a shallow understanding of history and demanded a proper explanation and apology.
In its statement, Starbucks Korea said it had identified an inappropriate phrase in the promotion, suspended the event and apologized for causing concern and discomfort, underscoring how references linked to South Korea's authoritarian era remain highly sensitive.
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