Starbucks US apologises to victims of May 18 uprising

Coffeehouse chain Starbucks’ US headquarters apologised on June 7 to victims of the Gwangju democratic uprising and their families for a Starbucks Korea promotional event that evoked memories of the military crackdown on the 1980 pro-democracy movement.



The May 18 Memorial Foundation organisation, set up to honour victims of the uprising in South Korea, said it received a written response from the US headquarters expressing regret over the incident, calling it an “inappropriate marketing campaign” that should never have happened.



“We apologise for the pain caused to the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and their families, and we recognise the historical significance of the movement,” the company said in its statement.



It added that the concerns raised by organisations over the incident had been forwarded to senior management for review.



The apology follows backlash after the coffee chain, operated by Shinsegae affiliate E-Mart, launched an online promotion named “Tank Day” on the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju uprising.



The promotion featured discounted “Tank” tumbler sets and the slogan “Slam it on the table!” – an expression critics said echoed the sounds of gunfire and military violence associated with the Gwangju crackdown.