Gwangju Civic Groups Demand Shinsegae Chairman's Resignation Over Starbucks Controversy

Civic organizations in the Jeonnam and Gwangju regions have escalated their actions against Starbucks Korea and its parent company, Shinsegae Group, demanding accountability for a controversial 'Tank Day' event that allegedly mocked historical tragedies, including the Gwangju Uprising.

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The apology announced after realizing the seriousness of the situation and the dismissal of the CEO are merely typical 'tail-cutting' tactics to obscure the essence of the matter and evade responsibility.

These 143 organizations, including the Gwangju Civic Group Council and the May 18 Memorial Foundation, held a press conference outside a Gwangju E-Mart, denouncing the company's response as a "typical tail-cutting" maneuver. They argue that the swift dismissal of Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun, without a thorough investigation into the event's origins, is a deliberate attempt to deflect criticism from Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.

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We urge Chairman Chung Yong-jin, the real 'body,' to resign. We demand that the truth be revealed through a police investigation rather than an internal investigation, which is highly likely to downplay or cover up the incident.

The civic groups contend that Chung's leadership style and corporate culture cannot be divorced from the marketing campaign's offensive nature, especially given his past controversies, such as the 'anti-communism' remarks. They are demanding his resignation and urging a police investigation to uncover the full truth, expressing skepticism about the company's ability to conduct an impartial internal probe.

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We propose to the sovereign citizens: let's launch a comprehensive boycott of Starbucks. If our demands are not met, we will expand the movement beyond boycotting Starbucks to a full boycott of the Gwangcheon Terminal and Eodeungsan development projects and Shinsegae Group.

Beyond demanding Chung's resignation, the groups are mobilizing a widespread boycott of Starbucks and warning of broader boycotts against Shinsegae's major development projects in Gwangju, including the Grand Starfield Gwangju and the expansion of the Gwangju Shinsegae Department Store. The Gwangju Metropolitan City government has also weighed in, labeling the incident a "serious social disaster" stemming from a lack of historical awareness at the highest levels of management and pledging to push for stronger legal protections for the May 18 spirit.

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We recognize this not as a simple mistake by a low-level employee, but as a serious social disaster caused by the top management's lack of historical awareness.