Shinsegae Group chairman to publicly apologize in person for Starbucks Korea controversy

Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin will apologize to the public in person on Tuesday morning and share the results of the in-company investigation regarding Starbucks Korea's recent “Tank Day” scandal.

“Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin would like to make a direct apology to everyone who was hurt due to Starbucks Korea’s inappropriate marketing promotion that took place on the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement,” Shinsegae Group said in a press release on Sunday.

Chung will also share the results of the investigation into how the promotion came about, according to the company.

The news comes amid mounting criticism from civic groups, the government and even the president.

Starbucks Korea is facing backlash over the language used in a promotional event for its tumblers. The coffee chain was criticized for designating May 18, the anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, as “Tank Day.” “Tank” is used in far-right online communities as a nickname for Chun Doo Hwan, the former Korean military dictator whose crackdown during the uprising left hundreds dead.

The phrase “Tak! on the desk,” which was used in promotional materials, also drew criticism for recalling the infamous police statement issued after student activist Park Jong-cheol’s death by torture. “Tak” is Korean onomatopoeia used to describe a sharp sound, often from one object hitting another, similar to the English language’s “bang.”

BY YOON SO-YEON [[email protected]]