DP: "People Power Party Declares Itself the 'Ilbe Party' by Calling Mockery of May 18 Freedom"

"It Is the President's Duty to Address Mockery and Hate"

"Deplorable That People Power Party Is Distorting the Core Issue"

With the 9th nationwide local elections approaching on June 3, the controversy surrounding Starbucks’ “Tank Day” marketing has rocked the political arena. On May 25, the Democratic Party of Korea escalated its offensive, claiming that Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is defending Starbucks under a far-right perspective.

On the 21st, in front of the Emart Gwangju branch in Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, representatives of civic groups from Gwangju and Jeonnam are striking Starbucks cups and tumblers with hammers during a press conference condemning Starbucks Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

During a press meeting at the National Assembly that day, Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae stated, “Does the People Power Party agree with Starbucks’ wrongful marketing? Some are even inciting people to ‘bring Starbucks to the polling stations.’ It is Jang and the People Power Party who are exploiting this issue for electoral gain.”

Spokesperson Kim Hyun-jung, in a written briefing on the same day, asked, “Is mocking May 18 an expression of freedom? Is turning the blood and tears of democracy into a laughing stock for the election what conservatism stands for?”

Kim further criticized, “They mocked the scars of May 18 as an election event and ridiculed memories of state violence with remarks like, ‘I choose my own coffee.’ Is this something a party leader should say? Visiting Gwangju to pay respects, yet making a mockery of May 18 in the election arena—this double standard is the true nature of the People Power Party.”

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Lim Se-eun commented, “It is the president’s duty to address actions that mock the pain of the people and spread hatred, in the interest of national unity. We cannot endlessly overlook acts of mocking and hatred towards the April 16 Sewol Ferry disaster, the May 18 Democratization Movement, and memorial ceremonies for former President Roh Moo-hyun under the pretext of freedom of expression.” She added, “Calling such criticism ‘public execution’ or ‘dictatorship’ is not only factually incorrect, but also nothing more than exaggerated agitation lacking logic and dignity.”

She continued, “Before the People Power Party resorts to unconditional opposition, they should first reflect on their own labeling of anti-state forces, demonization of workers, and incitement of color-based rhetoric during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. The public remembers who divided the people, who branded dissenters as enemies, and who used state power to turn certain groups into monsters.”

Meanwhile, the People Power Party has continued to denounce the government and ruling bloc’s strong response to the “mockery of May 18” sparked by the Starbucks Tank Day controversy as “agitational politics.” On the same day, Leader Jang Dong-hyuk wrote on his Facebook, “Is Starbucks now the target of this election’s ‘Dukchanga’ (Song of the Bamboo Spear)? The Starbucks boycott will surely end on June 3, the day of the local elections. After that day, Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party, and its hardcore supporters will all be walking around with Starbucks coffee as if nothing ever happened.” Veteran party member Kim Kimoon also posted a photo on Facebook of himself drinking coffee at a Starbucks store while wearing People Power Party campaign attire, declaring, “I choose the coffee I drink,” in defense of Starbucks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.