Did this Starbucks employee sell the Earth itself in a past life...?

*BANG* on the desk!

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Breaking News: Jung Yong-jin, CEO of Starbucks, suddenly dismissed over '5·18 Tank Day' incident. Posted 2026-05-18 20:23

Reporter Jo Min-jung + Subscribe

I'll spare you the detailed explanation.

"Tank Day on 5·18? A company's marketing cannot stand on the suffering and history of others"

On May 18th, the 46th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratic Uprising, the 5·18 Memorial Foundation expresses deep concern and strong regret over the serious historical distortion and trivializing expressions that occurred during a major corporation's marketing process. The phrases <5/18 Tank Day> and <Bang on the desk!> used by Company S for commercial promotion directly evoke memories of the most gruesome state violence in modern Korean history, causing insult and wounds to the spirits of May and their bereaved families, as well as citizens. Tanks and armored vehicles are cruel symbols of martial law forces that committed indiscriminate massacre and violence against innocent civilians in Gwangju in May 1980. The expression "Bang on the desk!" clearly borrows from the shameless lie "he died with a bang after banging the desk" spewed by the authoritarian regime to cover up the truth during the 1987 Park Jong-chul torture-to-death case. Using symbolic language of anti-human rights and anti-democratic state violence as commercial marketing language on the anniversary of the 5·18 Democratic Uprising reveals the company's serious lack of historical awareness and sense of social responsibility. A corporation's pursuit of profit and marketing freedom cannot be exercised on the suffering of others and the tragic history of the community. Today's historical distortion doesn't stop at merely spreading malicious falsehoods. The insensitive attitude of lightly consuming and trivializing historical symbols and pain in everyday spaces and commercial spheres—without any critical awareness—is the most dangerous poison mushroom that damages historical truth and reproduces distortion. The intentionality of the company requires further verification. However, having already caused deep anger and shock to countless citizens, the responsibility is never light. The company must thoroughly understand the circumstances of the problem and prepare genuine official apologies and measures to prevent recurrence for May organizations and citizens. The 5·18 Memorial Foundation hopes that this controversy will not end as a temporary happening of a single company or a face-saving apology. We hope it becomes an opportunity for our entire society to seriously reflect on how to respect historical memory and the suffering of others, and the Foundation solemnly declares that it will never turn a blind eye to and will firmly deal with the covert and insensitive acts of damaging the May spirit that occur in everyday life going forward.

5·18 Memorial Foundation

Yesterday, which was the 46th anniversary of the May 18th Democratic Uprising, Starbucks Korea, a subsidiary of Shinsegae Group, conducted inappropriate marketing that should not have happened and cannot be tolerated. Through this, we have caused deep wounds to the spirits of those who died in the May 18th Democratic Uprising, their bereaved families, and the people of this nation. On behalf of the group, I bow my head and apologize.

This matter is an inexcusable mistake that has treated lightly the pain and sacrifice of all those who have dedicated themselves to democracy in this country.

I deeply feel that all responsibility for this incident lies with me. I am well aware that any explanation will not be easily accepted. Above all, I heavily accept the fact that the entire group lacked historical awareness and sensitivity regarding the historical pain of the Korean community. From now on, I will comprehensively re-examine the group's decision-making system to prevent such incidents from recurring.

I promise to take all necessary measures including the following items.

- I will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident and the approval process, and will transparently disclose the results. - I will re-examine the review process for marketing content across all subsidiaries, and will improve the deliberation procedures and establish specific standards for content. - To establish strict historical awareness and ethical standards, I will provide education to all executives and employees, including myself.

Once again, I sincerely apologize to the spirits of those who died in the May 18th Uprising and their bereaved families, Gwangju citizens, the bereaved family of martyr Park Jong-chul, all those who sacrificed for democracy in this country, and the people of this nation for the deep wounds caused by this incident.

May 19, 2026 Shinsegae Group Chairman Jung Yong-jin

Busan Ilbo

[EXCLUSIVE] 'Tank Day' Starbucks US Headquarters Also Apologizes "Unacceptable Marketing" Reporter Yu Seung-ho Submitted May 19, 2026, 9:46 AM (Original article)

Amid the Starbucks Korea CEO being fired over the controversy surrounding marketing that disparaged the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, even Starbucks US headquarters has stepped in to apologize and contain the situation.

On the 19th, Starbucks headquarters responded to an inquiry sent by <Busan Ilbo>, stating "We sincerely apologize for the unacceptable marketing incident that occurred in Korea on May 18, the commemorative day of the Gwangju Democratization Movement."