Jeong Cheong-rae Criticizes Starbucks Amid Local Election Campaign in Daejeon

Democratic Party's Jeong Cheong-rae, head of the election campaign committee, supports Daejeon mayoral candidate Huh Tae-jeong at a rally in Daejeon's Eunjeong Cultural Street on May 21. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Jeong Cheong-rae, the head of the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, criticized Starbucks on May 21 for its recent controversy regarding the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, questioning, "Is it sane to hold a Tank Day event?"
Speaking at the campaign kickoff for Daejeon mayoral candidate Huh Tae-jeong, Jeong emphasized the importance of remembering those who lost their lives during the Gwangju uprising. He stated, "We must have gratitude for those who died during the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement."
Jeong pointed out, "There is a Starbucks here. Starbucks is not good," and highlighted that both the public and the military had successfully resisted former President Chun Doo-hwan, who declared martial law in Gwangju, and current President Yoon Suk Yeol, who issued an illegal martial law on December 3.
He remarked, "If the illegal martial law had succeeded, there would be no local elections, and neither Lee Jae-myung nor I would be alive today," calling it a "frightening situation."
Additionally, Jeong urged support for Huh, noting his experience as both a district mayor and a Daejeon mayoral candidate, as well as his work at the Blue House.
He concluded by stating, "South Korea is now normalizing," and emphasized the need to elect a capable mayor for Daejeon, similar to how President Yoon is performing.

* This article has been translated by AI.

LEE KEONHEE