Starbucks’ South Korean operation will close all of its stores nationwide early on June 22 for mandatory history and social sensitivity training. This decision comes after a marketing campaign sparked outrage by declaring May 18 to be “Tank Day,” which marks the anniversary of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southern city of Gwangju.

Background of the Controversy

The campaign further fueled outrage by using the slogan “Thwack it on the table!” which many read as a reference to a notorious 1987 police statement that attempted to cover up the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chol. Authorities had falsely said Park died after investigators “hit the desk with a thwack.”

Shinsegae Group, which owns a 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea, canceled the promotion within hours and fired the chief executive of Starbucks Korea. Shinsegae Chairman Chung Yong-jin later issued a nationally televised apology as police opened an investigation following complaints from relatives of the victims of the Gwangju crackdown.

The crackdown in Gwangju came months after General Chun Doo-hwan seized power in a coup in late 1979. Government records show about 200 people died in Gwangju, but activists say the true death toll was much higher. Chun’s government also imprisoned tens of thousands, saying it was rooting out social evils.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.