The BBC on the 19th introduced the controversy over Starbucks Korea’s ‘Tank Day’ event. Screen capture from the BBC homepage

As controversy over Starbucks’ ‘Tank Day’ event held on the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement continues to grow, foreign media have also covered it with interest.

Reuters reported on the 19th that “Son Jeong-hyeon, the head of Starbucks Korea, was dismissed after the ‘Tank Day’ event,” describing the event as “inappropriate marketing.” It added that May 18 is a day commemorating the 1980 democratization movement led by students and citizens, and that the Chun Doo-hwan military dictatorship deployed troops and tanks to suppress protesters.

AFP said that the phrase “Tank Day” evoked the military vehicles used to suppress protesters in 1980, triggering widespread criticism, and conveyed the context of the controversy. It also noted that President Lee Jae Myung expressed anger on social media the previous day.

The BBC explained the controversy and then highlighted posts by social media users expressing anger. It went on to say that Starbucks Korea apologized and immediately halted the event, and that Starbucks’ U.S. headquarters also issued an apology.

The UK daily the Guardian focused on Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin. The Guardian reported that he had previously delivered congratulatory remarks and provided free coffee sponsorship at an event by the domestic group ‘Build Up Korea,’ which is linked to the U.S. MAGA camp (Make America Great Again, President Donald Trump’s campaign slogan).