Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin apologized in person on Tuesday for a Starbucks Korea promotion that sparked backlash over its reference to a historic pro-democracy movement.
Chung spoke at a press conference in Gangnam District, Seoul, eight days after the launch of the "Tank Day" event on May 18. He said the promotion had hurt citizens and took full responsibility without excuses.
The campaign promoted coffee tumblers with a phrase that critics linked to the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising and the torture death of activist Park Jong-chul. Starbucks Korea CEO Sohn Jeong-hyun was dismissed on the day the event began.
Chung also asked the public to show warmth toward store employees and stressed the need for greater understanding across society. The controversy follows an earlier 2024 incident involving another Starbucks product line.
