Veterans Affairs Minister: Starbucks 'Tank Day' was corporate marketing, demands sanctions

South Korea's Minister of Veterans Affairs, Ko Oo-il, has strongly condemned Starbucks Korea's "Tank Day" promotion, calling it a marketing tactic that "clearly deserves condemnation and sanctions."

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It was planned as part of corporate marketing, and it used an event that caused national pain.

The promotion, which coincided with the anniversary of the May 18th Gwangju Uprising, was described by Ko as an exploitation of a painful national event for corporate gain. The Ministry of Veterans Affairs is reportedly reviewing its use of Starbucks gift certificates and its ongoing scholarship program with the company, which provides 100 million won annually to descendants of independence patriots.

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It clearly deserves condemnation and sanctions.

In a separate but related matter, Ko reiterated his commitment to passing the "Democratization Movement Patriots Act," which would recognize individuals who died or were injured during democratization movements, beyond the existing categories of the April 19th Revolution and the May 18th Gwangju Uprising. He expressed surprise that figures like Park Jong-chul, Lee Han-yeol, and Jeon Tae-il are not currently recognized as national merit recipients.

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It is difficult to understand opposing legislation for emotional reasons.

Ko addressed concerns about the inclusion of individuals involved in controversial events, such as the Dongui University incident, stating that legal rulings and injury classifications have been considered. He also provided an update on efforts to locate the remains of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, who was executed in 1910. The ministry is seeking cooperation from China and investigating Japanese records to pinpoint the burial site, noting that China requires North Korea's consent due to Ahn's hometown being in the North.

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I was most surprised that figures like Park Jong-chul, Lee Han-yeol, and Jeon Tae-il are not currently national merit recipients.