Far-right figures defend Chung Yong-jin amid Starbucks 'Tank Day' row

The Hankyoreh reports on the escalating controversy surrounding Starbucks' '5.18 Tank Day' marketing campaign and the subsequent backlash. The article highlights how far-right figures, including YouTuber Jeon Han-gil and lawyer Kang Yong-seok, are rallying to defend Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin, who has been embroiled in similar controversies. Jeon praised Chung as a 'symbolic entrepreneur of the conservative right' for his past 'anti-communism' remarks, while Kang urged people to patronize Starbucks more, framing the criticism as a left-wing attack. This defense, however, risks further solidifying Starbucks' image as a symbol for the far-right in South Korea, a stark contrast to the intended meaning of the 5.18 democratization movement. The article also notes the emergence of online 'proof shots' of Starbucks purchases with hashtags like '멸공벅스' (anti-communism Starbucks) and the spread of AI-generated images mocking the 5.18 massacre victims. The situation underscores a deep societal divide and the weaponization of corporate marketing for political agendas, a phenomenon that resonates differently within South Korea's complex political landscape compared to international perceptions.

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Starbucks' 'Tank Day' marketing is excessive, and the boycott should end here.