South Korean activists smash Starbucks cups to protest ‘Tank Day’ campaign | News
Protests in South Korea Target Starbucks Over Marketing Campaign
Published on May 22, 2026
Activists in South Korea organized protests outside Starbucks locations on Thursday, smashing coffee cups in response to the chain’s “Tank Day” marketing campaign. The demonstrators argue that the campaign is offensive and trivializes the victims of the 1980 Gwangju massacre.
The Gwangju incident, marked by a brutal government crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, holds significant historical importance in South Korea. Critics of the marketing campaign assert that the coffee chain’s promotion invokes painful memories for many citizens.
Protesters, using the slogan “Never Again,” disrupted business at several stores in Seoul, calling on Starbucks to retract the campaign and acknowledge the historical context of the Gwangju uprising. The activists are demanding greater sensitivity from corporations when engaging with a subject that remains deeply embedded in national consciousness.
Starbucks has yet to release an official response to the protests or clarify its intent behind the marketing initiative. The backlash underscores ongoing tensions in South Korea regarding how historical events are represented in commercial contexts.
