Gwangju students speak out against Starbucks for mocking May 18th uprising

Gwangju students are raising their voices against Starbucks Korea for its deeply offensive 'Tank Day' event, which they argue trivialized the historic May 18th Gwangju Democratic Uprising. The Gwangju Metropolitan Council of High School Students issued a strong statement condemning the marketing campaign, which coincided with the solemn anniversary. The students expressed profound concern that such inappropriate promotions could tarnish the historical significance of the Gwangju Uprising and foster distorted views of history. They highlighted the escalating problem of malicious distortions and hate speech related to May 18th, both online and offline, which are causing significant confusion among students about historical values. The council emphasized that corporations, as members of society, have a responsibility to uphold historical integrity and help students develop an accurate understanding of the past. They declared their unwavering commitment to defending the spirit of May and resisting any attempts to obscure or distort the truth of that pivotal moment in Korean history.

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Starbucks Korea conducted inappropriate marketing coinciding with May 18th, the anniversary of the historically and humanely significant Gwangju Democratization Movement.