Women Service Institute, Nepal

Joint Statement
Calling for Accountability for Starbucks
Korea's "Tank Day" Campaign
On May 18, the anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in South Korea,
Starbucks Korea carried out a marketing promotion using the phrase “Tank Day.” In the
context of May 18, the word “tank” directly evokes the state violence inflicted on
citizens in Gwangju in May 1980. The promotion also used the Korean phrase
“Chaeksang-e tak(책상에 탁, Bang on the Desk)”, a phrase widely associated with the
authorities’ false explanation of the death of student activist Park Jong-chul, who in fact
died as a result of torture.
This matter cannot be dismissed as a simple marketing mistake. The memory of state
violence, citizens’ resistance for democracy, and the suffering endured by victims,
bereaved families, and citizens must never be distorted, trivialized, or exploited for
commercial purposes.
The May 18 Democratic Uprising is a defining milestone in Korea’s democratic history
and a universal symbol of resistance against oppression and the pursuit of human
dignity. Any attempt to use symbols or language associated with historical trauma and
state violations as marketing material demonstrates a profound lack of historical
sensitivity and respect for democratic values.
We therefore express our deep concern and strong condemnation of Starbucks Korea’s
“Tank Day” campaign and call upon Starbucks Corporation to take the following
actions:
1. Disclose the facts of the case and publicly release the result of a thorough
investigation.
Conduct a comprehensive investigation into how Starbucks Korea and its local
operating partner, E-Mart (Shinsegae Group), planned, reviewed, approved, and
implemented this historically insensitive and human-rights-insensitive campaign.
Publicly disclose the decision-making process behind the promotion, including how the
phrases “Tank Day” and “chaeksang-e tak” were conceived, reviewed, approved, used,
and subsequently revised. Those responsible must acknowledge the seriousness of this
matter, accept full accountability, and take immediate action to address its consequences
and restore public trust.
2. Issue a genuine apology and accept full responsibility.
Although Chung Yong-jin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, issued two public apologies
regarding this incident, those statements have been widely perceived as performative
responses that failed to fully acknowledge the harm caused. We call upon both
Starbucks Corporation and Starbucks Korea to issue a sincere and genuine apology that
fully accepts responsibility for this incident and demonstrates a meaningful commitment
to ensuring that similar actions never occur again.
3. Take meaningful accountability measures.
This matter must not be reduced to an individual mistake or a one-time promotional
failure. Starbucks Corporation should take appropriate corrective and accountability
measures regarding the local operating partner responsible for damaging public trust
and undermining Starbucks’ global brand value. Institutional and managerial
responsibility must be clearly identified, and concrete internal reforms must be
implemented.
4. Establish preventive measures and promote historical and human rights
awareness.
Establish preventive measures, internal guidelines, and follow-up mechanisms to ensure
that marketing practices involving historical trauma and human rights issues are never
repeated. In addition, provide education and training for executives and employees,
including senior leadership, on historical awareness, democratic values, and corporate
human rights responsibility.
The memory of state violence and democratic resistance must never be used as material
for corporate marketing. We urge Starbucks Corporation to respond responsibly to this
matter and to take concrete actions that reflect its stated commitment to human rights,
social responsibility, and ethical business conduct.
June 17, 2026
Issued jointly by:
Organizations (49)
The May 18 Foundation (South Korea)
Korean New Zealanders for a Better Future (New Zealand)
Activate Rights (Bangladesh)
The Oasis of Democracy Mongolia (Mongolia)
Cordillera People's Alliance (Philippines)
Women Service Institute (WSI) Nepal (Nepal)
Teoh Beng Hock Association for Democratic Advancement (Malaysia)
Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (Thailand/Myanmar)
People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) (India)
Nepal Centre for Philanthropy and Development (NCPD) (Nepal)
INHURED International (Nepal)
Cyber Civil Defender For the Excluded People (Hansip-Bokir) (Indonesia)
TOM Foundation (Nepal)
Centre for Social Policy Development (Pakistan)
Peace and Conflict Studies Center (Nepal)
People Empowerment Foundation (Thailand)
Milk Tea Alliance Japan (Japan)
JCYCN (Nepal)
Foundation for Education and Development (Thailand)
Point 33 NGO (Armenia)
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH-CRC)
(Malaysia)
BERSIH – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Malaysia)
Human Rights Office (Sri Lanka)
Human Rights Law Chambers (Sri Lanka)
Free Trade Union Development Centre Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka)
Bytes for All (Pakistan)
Human Rights and Democratic Forum (FOHRID) (Nepal)
Environment and Justice Society (Nepal)
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma/Myanmar)
Joy House (Thailand)
African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect
(ANPPCAN Malawi Chapter) (Malawi)
Taiwan Association for Human Rights (Taiwan)
Cross Cultural Foundation (Thailand)
Asia Justice and Rights (Indonesia)
KontraS Aceh (Indonesia)
Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) (Myanmar)
Asia Democracy Network (Asia Regional)
African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect
(ANPPCAN) (Malawi)
Migrant Forum Asia (Philippines)
Social Actions for New Alternatives (India)
Advocacy Forum-Nepal (Nepal)
Social Action for Development and Rights (Sri Lanka)
Korea Peace Committee Philadelphia (United States)
SKHU MAINS (South Korea)
BUMA Democratic Uprising Memorial Foundation (South Korea)
Donghak Peasant Revolution Foundation (South Korea)
Korean Video Journalists Association (South Korea)
BUSAN DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION (South Korea)
Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO) (Bangladesh)
Individuals (54)
Shoeb Abdullah (Bangladesh)
Rizqan Kariema Mustafa (Indonesia)
George Katsiaficas (United States)
Joanna K. Cariño (Philippines)
Alfian Zohri Mohd Tahir (Malaysia)
Ngoc Ngo (Vietnam)
Poengky Indarti (Indonesia)
Long Pisey (Cambodia)
Rafe Salman Rifat (Bangladesh)
Lala Munawar (Pakistan)
Oni Imelva (Indonesia)
Lenin Raghuvanshi (India)
Lalaina Randriarimanana (Madagascar)
AHN-TAE-HYUN (South Korea)
Sushil Pyakurel (Nepal)
Miyeong Gwak (South Korea)
Zafar Ahsan (Pakistan)
Jiyun Choi (South Korea)
Nina Goodman (United States / South Korea)
Sunhyung Kim (South Korea)
Forhad Hossain (Bangladesh)
Kirana Anjani (Indonesia)
HYUN JI LEE (South Korea)
Hanbodam Lee (South Korea)
Astghik Karapetyan (Armenia)
Hyunjun Yang (South Korea)
Suren D. Perera (Sri Lanka)
Seung Min Kim (South Korea)
Tim Shorrock (United States)
Caroline Bennett (The Netherlands)
HYEWON KIM (South Korea)
Da-Rae Yoon (South Korea)
Sandeep Singh (India)
Riyadh Putuhena (Indonesia)
Shwe Yamin Aye (Myanmar)
Yourim Song (South Korea)
Abdul Awal (Bangladesh)
Marcy Tanter (United States)
Lars F. Köppen (Germany)
Sumitra Khadka (Nepal)
Uju Peace Okeke (Nigeria)
Bikash Basnet (Nepal)
LAM CHIKA (Japan)
Min-gi Lee (South Korea)
Dong-Ju Kho (South Korea)
Carel Montpetit (Canada)
Shruti Nagvanshi (India)
Hyeonjin Lim (South Korea)
CHENG NAIWEI (Taiwan)
Chanmyae Thiri (Myanmar)
Pandit Chanrochanakit (Thailand)
Preeyapa Masiri (Thailand)
Yupaporn Tarungsri (Thailand)
Algan (South Korea)

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Opportunity Alert! If you are interested to be part of this Youth Fiscal Accountability Network (YFAN) then please do apply before June 15, 2026.

Project Abhaya is building a network of young civic leaders across all seven provinces to advance fiscal transparency and public accountability in Nepal. Over the course of a year, this cohort will work alongside Project Abhaya through research, structured dialogue, and sustained advocacy - bridging the gap between how public money is managed and how citizens, particularly young people, understand and engage with it.

प्रोजेक्ट अभयले नेपालका सातै प्रदेशमा वित्तीय पारदर्शिता र जवाफदेहिता प्रवर्द्धन गर्नका निम्ति युवा नेतृत्व सञ्जालको निर्माण गर्दैछ। यस सञ्जालले अनुसन्धान, संवाद तथा विविध अभियान मार्फत प्रोजेक्ट अभयसँग एक वर्षको अवधिभर सहकार्य गर्नेछ। यसले सार्वजनिक कोषको व्यवस्थापन तथा त्यसको प्रक्रिया जस्ता विषय युवाले कसरी बुझेका छन् र त्यसमा कसरी सहभागी हुन सक्छन् भन्ने सन्दर्भमा काम गर्नेछ।

Deadline: June 15, 2026

Application - Youth Fiscal Accountability Network (YFAN) Project Abhaya is building a network of young civic leaders across all seven provinces to advance fiscal transparency and public accountability in Nepal. Over the course of a year, this cohort will work alongside Project Abhaya through research, structured dialogue, and sustained advocacy - bridging...

Happy Women Rights Day 2083