Starbucks Korea's marketing campaign for its 'Tank' coffee tumblers, launched on May 18, sparked widespread outrage due to its timing with the anniversary of the Gwangju massacre, where military forces suppressed pro-democracy protests in 1980. The campaign's slogan, 'thwack on the desk', echoed a controversial police narrative surrounding the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chul, intensifying public anger. Following the backlash, protests erupted, leading to the firing of CEO Son Jeong-hyun and a significant drop in card payments at Starbucks stores, which fell by 26% in a week. The company's chairman, Chung Yong-jin, issued multiple apologies, including a televised bowing, but these were rejected by victims' families and 5/18 organizations. The scandal has also drawn political attention, with government agencies suspending partnerships with Starbucks and public calls for accountability. Starbucks Corporation expressed regret over the incident, stating it was reviewing internal policies to prevent similar occurrences. The controversy highlights ongoing societal divisions in South Korea regarding historical events and the expectations for corporate responsibility.