Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin. Yonhap News

In connection with the controversy over a Starbucks event seen as disparaging the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin and former Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jeong-hyeon were reported to the police.

On the 20th, the Committee for Livelihood Measures for Ordinary People said it had filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency accusing Chairman Chung and former CEO Son of insult and defamation. In the complaint, it argues that insults and defamation resulted from insufficient oversight of employees by Chairman Chung. Regarding former CEO Son, it states that he insulted and defamed the 5·18 Democratization Movement, the bereaved families, the citizens of Gwangju, and the public. On the 18th, the day the controversy erupted, Son was dismissed from the position on orders from Chairman Chung.

Police are expected to review the complaint and decide whether to open an investigation. President Lee Jae Myung wrote on X on the 18th that he was angered by the inhumane behavior of base merchants and that commensurate moral, administrative, legal, and political accountability should follow. On the same day, Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae said he would push legislation to penalize ridicule or disparagement of the democratization movement.

Amid the controversy, Starbucks continues to enforce its rule on prepaid card balances that refunds are allowed only after at least 60% of the balance is used. Following the 5·18 disparagement controversy, boycotts and refund efforts have emerged, and some consumers have challenged the clause as unfair.

On the 18th, Starbucks ran its Dante, Tank, and Nasu Day event, and its promotional materials on the official website and application (app) highlighted the wording Tank Day and the date 5/18. The phrase Desk, bang! was also used. Critics said these evoked the entry of tanks into downtown Gwangju by martial-law forces during 5·18 and the security authorities explanation during the 1987 death under torture of activist Park Jong-chul that a desk was slapped and he let out a gasp and died.

On the evening the controversy erupted, Chairman Chung abruptly replaced former CEO Son and posted an apology the next day, pledging a fact-finding inquiry and measures to prevent a recurrence. Starbucks headquarters in the United States also apologized on the 19th, saying it was something that should never have happened.