[theqoo] STARBUCKS HOLDING A "TANK DAY" EVENT ON MAY 18TH ft. CLARIFICATION & APOLOGY

t/n: The Gwangju Uprising, also known in South Korea as May 18 Democratization Movement was a series of student-led demonstrations that took place in Gwangju, South Korea, in May 1980, against the coup of Chun Doo-hwan.

"Tank Day" "Bang! On the desk"

original post: here

1. Starbucks tastes disgusting, f*ck off

2. Are they crazy? I'm boycotting

3. Boycotting

4. They're f*cking horrible

5. ???? Unless they used ChatGPT for the whole thing, I'm not forgiving them

6. They've lost it??

7. Freaking trash. Wow they're laughing at us

8. They're f*cking crazy

9. Crazy f*ckers, they've lost it

10. What the? This gave me chills

[theqoo] "THE PERSON IN CHARGE WAS YOUNG AND DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MAY 18TH"... STARBUCKS CLARIFIES "TANK DAY" CONTROVERSY

On the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Starbucks used event phrases such as “Tank Day” and “Bang on the Desk,” which were seen as mocking the democratization movement. In response, the company explained that “the staff member was young.”

On the 18th, an internal Starbucks official told Green Economy Newspaper that “the employee who planned the event was a young person who did not know much about May 18.” Regarding the event, the official added, “All related activities have currently been suspended. The employee has also been removed from those duties.”

According to reporting by Green Economy Newspaper, the event was originally planned around April as a promotion for a “Mini Tank Tumbler.” After the date was postponed to the 18th of this month, unlike the earlier promotion which emphasized the “Mini Tank Tumbler,” the phrases “Tank Day” and the previously nonexistent phrase “Bang on the Desk” were awkwardly inserted into the campaign.

Criticism has since spread online, with many arguing that the wording mocked both the military regime’s use of tanks to violently suppress the May 18 Democratization Movement and the military government’s infamous 1987 statement regarding the torture d**th of student activist Park Jong-cheol: “He hit the desk with a thump, and then suddenly d**d.”

Kim Soon, executive committee chair of the May Gwangju-Jeonnam Memorial Solidarity, strongly criticized the explanation, saying:

“Starbucks must have reviewed this campaign multiple times before approving it, yet they inserted a date and phrases that so clearly allude to the democratization movement and then claimed that ‘a young person didn’t know the meaning.’ That explanation is difficult to understand. This sounds like the kind of excuse that would only circulate in far-right online communities. Ever since Chairman Chung Yong-jin, who openly promotes anti-communist slogans, acquired Starbucks, I worry that proper review procedures have disappeared.”

original post: https://www.greened.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=340889

original post: here

1. What is this bullsh*t?

2. Looks like they had no other excuse than this

3. And the manager didn't confirm this? The designer didn't confirm this?

4. Who was the person in charge?

5. They must've been all ilbe bugs f*ck

6. They 100% knew

7. Blaming it on the youth, bullsh*t

8. Must've been an ilbe kid

9. "Bang on the desk" ㅋㅋㅋ

10. They're ilbe

[theqoo] STARBUCKS CEO'S APOLOGY

We offer our deepest apologies.

Today, due to marketing materials containing inappropriate expressions related to the May 18 Democratization Movement, we have caused deep pain to the spirits of those who died during the May 18 uprising, May organizations, the citizens of Gwangju, the bereaved family of activist Park Jong-cheol, and all those who led the democratization of South Korea. We bow our heads in sincere apology.

Earlier this morning, we became aware that phrases connected to the highly significant historical meaning of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement had been used in a highly inappropriate manner in connection with an online tumbler sales event. As soon as we recognized the issue, we immediately halted the event.

Before launching the event, the relevant content was not thoroughly reviewed internally, and we once again apologize for causing controversy on a commemorative day meant to honor the noble spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in May.

We fully recognize the gravity of this incident and our heavy responsibility in the matter, and we will pursue every possible measure to prevent something like this from happening again.

First, we will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the incident, carefully determine the circumstances, and take all necessary actions, including holding those responsible accountable.

In addition, we will improve our internal processes to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

To establish stricter historical awareness and ethical standards, we will provide education for all employees and thoroughly strengthen our review procedures for all events, including marketing campaigns, so that this kind of incident never happens again.

Once again, we sincerely bow our heads in apology to everyone who was hurt by this incident.

Sohn Jung-hyun, CEO of Starbucks Korea

original post: here

1. Let's see the face of the guy in charge of marketing, I'm curious

2. Why did they fire that person?? You have to clean up the mess. Is firing him all you're going to do?

3. I hope the person who planned this sued Starbucks back

4. They were losing money so they apologized ㅋㅋㅋf*ckers, reveal the faces of the people in charge of this

5. Fire all the chain of command above that person too

6. Crazy

7. So they're blaming marketing?

8. I'm boycotting from today onward

9. It's true that they should fire the CEO too, and everyone below him