South Korean Starbucks faces lawsuit over 'Tank Day' promotion

A lawyer in South Korea has initiated legal action against Starbucks, demanding refunds for prepaid membership fees after the company's controversial "Tank Day" promotion. The promotion, launched on the 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, drew widespread criticism for evoking memories of the military's suppression of protests in 1980.

Lawyer Yang Hong-seok filed a "payment order" with the Seoul Central District Court. He stated that he decided to stop patronizing Starbucks and delete his membership after the "Tank Day" incident. However, his attempt to get a refund for his prepaid balance was unsuccessful.

Under South Korean regulations enforced by the Fair Trade Commission, users must have used at least 60% of their stored value to be eligible for a refund. For balances of 10,000 Korean won (approximately $7.20) or less, 80% must be used. Yang's refund request was denied because he did not meet these criteria, prompting his legal filing.

If Starbucks receives the court's "payment order," it has two weeks to file an objection. If no objection is filed, the case will proceed to a standard lawsuit, meaning Yang will take Starbucks to court.

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He stated that he decided to stop patronizing Starbucks and delete his membership after the "Tank Day" incident. However, his attempt to get a refund for his prepaid balance was unsuccessful.