South Korean lawmaker sparks controversy with fake Starbucks image and Gwangju Uprising denial

A South Korean lawmaker has ignited controversy by sharing a fabricated image of a Starbucks tumbler on Facebook. Park Soo-young, a member of the People Power Party, posted an image that appeared to show a "drum barrel"-shaped Starbucks tumbler, a design associated with a derogatory meme used against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. The image was an AI-generated fake, according to Starbucks.

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This image is unrelated to our company.

The controversy deepens as Park also shared an article containing "fake news" that claimed tanks were not used to suppress the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. The article, written by Jung Jae-hak, argued that linking Starbucks' commercial advertising to the Gwangju Uprising was illogical, as tanks were not involved. This claim directly contradicts historical records and photographic evidence showing tanks deployed by the martial law forces during the suppression of the uprising.

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The reason this tumbler is called a 'tank' at Starbucks stores is because of its unique design that resembles a drum barrel (oil tank).

Park's post has drawn criticism from the Democratic Party, which has accused the People Power Party of defending Starbucks against accusations of disrespecting the Gwangju Uprising. The fabricated tumbler image and the accompanying article have circulated on far-right online communities, which have previously sought to discredit the Gwangju Uprising and its victims. The incident highlights the ongoing political and historical tensions surrounding the Gwangju Uprising in South Korea.

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Was a tank mobilized in the 5.18 democratization movement? In other words, linking this to Starbucks' commercial advertising is an excessive logic.