{"id":2640950,"date":"2026-08-05T12:28:02","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T16:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-korean-police-raid-starbucks-hq-over-tank-day-campaign\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T12:34:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T16:34:36","slug":"south-korean-police-raid-starbucks-hq-over-tank-day-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-korean-police-raid-starbucks-hq-over-tank-day-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korean police raid Starbucks HQ over &#8216;Tank Day&#8217; campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouth-korean-police-raid-starbucks-hq-over-tank-day-campaign%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2640950&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>South Korean police raided starbucks Korea headquarters as part of an investigation into allegations that the company trivialized the 1980 Gwangju uprising through it&#8217;s &#8220;Tank Day&#8221; promotional campaign, which involved large tumblers unveiled on the anniversary of the protests where military tanks suppressed pro-democracy demonstrations resulting in at least 165 deaths. The campaign faced criticism, protests, and boycotts, leading to decreased sales and ongoing legal scrutiny. Even though Starbucks Korea conducted an internal review and found no evidence of wrongdoing, some involved personnel did not cooperate fully. As a result, company leaders, including the CEO and the parent company&#8217;s chairman, resigned and apologized. The incident drew notable attention from South Korea&#8217;s President, who condemned the company&#8217;s actions. In response,Starbucks Korea implemented mandatory staff training on past awareness and social ethics,including a nationwide closure for retraining,marking its first early closure as 1999.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-korea\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2221\">South Korean<\/a> police raided the nation\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/starbucks\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"937\">Starbucks<\/a> headquarters on Wednesday to look for evidence that the coffee chain knowingly trivialized a 1980 massacre through its \u201cTank Day\u201d advertisement campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A spokesperson for the Shinsegae Group, Starbucks Korea\u2019s parent company, confirmed the raid was part of an ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4675729\/south-korea-police-raid-starbucks-headquarters-tank-day-campaign\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>South Korean police raid Starbucks headquarters over \u2018Tank Day\u2019 campaign<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4675585\/mamdani-purges-dozens-corporate-leaders-city-backed-nonprofit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mamdani purges dozens of corporate leaders from city-backed nonprofit organization<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4675260\/trial-date-paramount-skydance-warner-bros-antitrust-lawsuit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge sets trial date for Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. antitrust lawsuit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The \u201cTank Day\u201d 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-gop-sen-david-perdue-in-runoff-battle-with-democrat-jon-ossoff\/\" title=\"Ga. GOP Sen. David Perdue in runoff battle with Democrat Jon Ossoff\">pro-democracy protests<\/a> against former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/military\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"266\">Military<\/a> tanks were used to quash the mass rebellion.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin and Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun resigned after apologizing for the failed ad campaign.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4609470\/south-korea-starbucks-tank-day\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4609470\/south-korea-starbucks-tank-day\/\">SOUTH KOREA\u2019S STARBUCKS TO CLOSE FOR STAFF HISTORY LESSON AFTER \u2018TANK DAY\u2019 REUSABLE CUP CAMPAIGN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South Korean President Lee Jae Myung previously weighed in on the matter, illustrating how the incident caught the attention of the nation\u2019s highest officials. He described the company\u2019s oversight as \u201cinhumane and disgraceful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In June, Starbucks Korea mandated that all of its stores hold a training session on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/history\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1546\">historical<\/a> 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\u2019s first nationwide early closure since 1999.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Korean police raid Starbucks over \u201cTank Day\u201d ad controversy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2640951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26146058160290.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4087,39212,34188,9843,83721],"class_list":["post-2640950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaign","tag-police-raid","tag-south-korea","tag-starbucks","tag-tank-day"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26146058160290.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2640950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2640950"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2640950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2640954,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2640950\/revisions\/2640954"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2640951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2640950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2640950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2640950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}