South Korean police raided the nation’s Starbucks headquarters on Wednesday to look for evidence that the coffee chain knowingly trivialized a 1980 massacre through its “Tank Day” advertisement campaign.
A spokesperson for the Shinsegae Group, Starbucks Korea’s parent company, confirmed the raid was part of an ongoing investigation.
The “Tank Day” promotion drew criticism when Starbucks unveiled large tumblers on May 18, the 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. At least 165 people were killed in the series of pro-democracy protests against former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan. Military tanks were used to quash the mass rebellion.
The reusable cup campaign swiftly led to protests and boycotts that translated to lower sales. The company also found itself mired in a criminal investigation.
Police are investigating the matter after Starbucks Korea conducted an internal investigation. The company found no evidence of wrongdoing, but it noted that people involved in planning the promotion did not hand over their phones during the internal investigation.
Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin and Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun resigned after apologizing for the failed ad campaign.
SOUTH KOREA’S STARBUCKS TO CLOSE FOR STAFF HISTORY LESSON AFTER ‘TANK DAY’ REUSABLE CUP CAMPAIGN
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung previously weighed in on the matter, illustrating how the incident caught the attention of the nation’s highest officials. He described the company’s oversight as “inhumane and disgraceful.”
In June, Starbucks Korea mandated that all of its stores hold a training session on historical awareness and social ethics for their staff. The mandatory retraining lasted for three hours, starting at 3 p.m. on June 22. It was the company’s first nationwide early closure since 1999.