The fallout from Starbucks' "5·18 Tank Day" continues to spread, with the Gwangju Metropolitan City government dismissing the incident as "not a simple mistake but a grave social incident" and taking a strong stance.
In a statement issued on the 21st regarding the Starbucks "5·18 Tank Day" incident, Gwangju City said, "At a time when the constitutional amendment to include the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble of the Constitution has fallen through, Starbucks Korea has mocked the May 18 Movement and the history of democracy, drawing nationwide outrage." The city added, "We recognize this not as a simple mistake by a working-level employee but as a grave social incident caused by a top executive lacking historical awareness."
The city particularly criticized the company, stating, "It has destroyed the brand value of the company in one stroke and inflicted enormous damage on workers and shareholders. It has undermined the value of democracy, which is the foundation of our society." The city made clear that "the ultimate responsibility for this incident lies with Chairman Chung Yong-jin," and strongly urged appropriate measures be taken in response to public outrage.
Gwangju City also emphasized, "We will continue to push for the inclusion of the May 18 spirit in the preamble of the Constitution without interruption, and will correct the limitations of the current May 18 Special Act, which only punishes the dissemination of false facts." The city added, "We strongly request that the National Assembly significantly strengthen the scope and severity of punishment, at least to the level of the amendment proposed in 2020."
Above all, following instructions from Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Gwangju City has banned the use of Starbucks gift cards and similar items as prizes for various events.
