• Starbucks Korea's CEO Sohn Jeong-hyun was fired after a controversial promotion.
• The campaign referenced the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, provoking public outrage.
• South Korea's President condemned the marketing as disrespectful and insensitive.
• Starbucks has apologized and suspended the promotion due to its inappropriateness.
• Shinsegae Group plans to investigate and strengthen internal review processes.

The head of Starbucks Korea has been dismissed following a marketing campaign that sparked widespread outrage for evoking painful memories of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. CEO Sohn Jeong-hyun was fired after the company executed a campaign promoting a line of drinkware under the slogan "Tank Day," coinciding with the anniversary of the military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, according to South China Morning Post, Reuters, and BBC.

The promotional campaign, featuring "Tank Day" and a special line of tumblers, drew significant backlash as many South Koreans associated it with the military's violent suppression of civilians in 1980. Reports indicate that official estimates recorded at least 165 fatalities, but activists claim the true number could be as high as 2,300, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.

In response to the uproar, which included criticism from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Starbucks Korea issued an apology stating the marketing language was "inappropriate." The president expressed outrage at the timing and nature of the promotion, labeling it a disrespectful act that "mocked" the struggles of democracy activists, as detailed in South China Morning Post, Reuters, and BBC.

Starbucks has since rolled back the campaign shortly after its launch, while Shinsegae Group's chairman vowed to address the failures that allowed the promotion to be linked with such a sensitive historical event. The chairman emphasized the need for a thorough internal review to prevent such missteps in the future, according to Channel News Asia and Al Jazeera.