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South Korean police raid Starbucks Korea headquarters following defamation claims over 'Tank Day' marketing campaign

South Korean police executed a search and seizure of the Starbucks Korea headquarters in the Gangnam District to investigate defamation claims regarding a controversial marketing campaign. The investigation centers on the 'Tank Day' promotion launched in May, which many critics argued disparaged the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a significant historical event where hundreds were allegedly killed by military forces. The campaign used the phrase 'Tak on the desk!', which was also a word used by police in 1987 to describe the death of a student activist. The backlash led to a mass boycott and a significant decline in sales for the coffee chain. In response, Shinsegae Group, which manages the brand in Korea, fired the CEO and issued a formal apology. While sales have begun to show signs of a rebound, the ongoing police investigation into the company's internal decision-making process may slow the momentum of future marketing efforts. The controversy has also shifted the competitive landscape, with A Twosome Place surpassing Starbucks in monthly transactions for three consecutive months.

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