Police are intensifying their investigation into Shinsegae Group Chairman Jeong Yong-jin, who has been accused of mocking the May 18 Democratic Movement through Starbucks' 'Tank Day' promotion.
According to police on May 22, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit summoned Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary General of the Citizens' Committee for the Protection of the People’s Livelihood, to the Mapo Police Station to investigate the circumstances surrounding the complaint.
On May 20, the Citizens' Committee filed a complaint against Jeong and former Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jong-hyun for defamation and insult.
The committee alleged that Starbucks Korea used promotional phrases like 'Tank Day' and 'On the Desk' while marketing its 'Tank Tumbler Series' on May 18, the 46th anniversary of the democratic movement, thereby insulting the families of the victims and the citizens of Gwangju. They filed the complaint against Son, Starbucks Korea employees, and Jeong, the company's largest shareholder.
Initially, the case was assigned to the Gangnam Police Station, but due to the seriousness of the matter, it was reassigned to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit.
The Gangnam Police were scheduled to conduct a witness investigation on May 29, but the Seoul police expedited the process and questioned Kim just one day after the case was reassigned.
Meanwhile, Jeong was reportedly on a business trip abroad but returned to South Korea shortly after the incident. However, after issuing a public apology, he has not made any further statements, leading to ongoing protests from civic groups related to the May 18 movement.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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