Seoul: Civil servant unions have called on their members to boycott Starbucks Korea over a promotional event that evoked painful memories of a brutal military crackdown on the 1980 pro-democracy movement, officials said Friday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Government Employees' Union sent notices to its branches nationwide Thursday asking its members to boycott the coffee franchise. The union took issue with the "Tank Day" event that coincided with the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju uprising. The marketing campaign offered "tank" tumbler sets on discount but was scrapped within hours of its launch following public criticism. The word "tank" evoked memories of the military deploying tanks to clamp down on pro-democracy protesters.
Promotional material for the event also featured the phrase, "Put it on the table with a sound of 'Tak!'" The word "Tak" sparked backlash, as it reminded people of student activist Park Jong-chol, who died in 1987 after being tortured. The union urged members to actively participate in the boycott, emphasizing that Starbucks products and gift cards are often purchased as gifts for union members.
The Confederation of Korean Government Employees' Unions, another civil servant union, has also issued an advisory calling on its members not to use Starbucks gift cards. On Thursday, Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung vowed not to use Starbucks products during government events as he expressed "deep regret" over the promotional event.
Additionally, the justice ministry recently instructed the Supreme Prosecutors Office to report its purchases of Starbucks products, excluding drinks, since January this year. The ministry is investigating whether the prosecution has been using products from the coffee franchise as gifts for events or surveys, taking into account the public backlash against the brand. The prosecution reportedly informed the ministry that there were no such purchases this year.