'Tank Day' Investigation Stalls for a Month...Prosecution Says "Difficult to Apply May 18 Special Act"

Prosecutors Reject Shinsegae Group Search Warrant

Internal Audit Results Announced, but Clear Limitations Remain

The police investigation into Starbucks, which has been accused of insulting the May 18 Democratic Uprising, is reportedly making little progress.

According to Yonhap News Agency on the 28th, the Public Crime Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Division in charge of the Starbucks case applied for a search and seizure warrant against Starbucks to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on June 8 on charges of violating the Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Uprising, insult, and defamation. However, the application was rejected on June 12.

On the 22nd, the lights were off at a Starbucks store in downtown Seoul. Starbucks Korea closed all its stores nationwide at 3 p.m. that day to conduct history awareness and social sensitivity training for its store partners. This is the first time since opening its first domestic store in 1999 that all stores nationwide have simultaneously closed early. June 22, 2026 Photo by Jinhyung Kang

The prosecution is said to have returned the warrant, ruling that while the charge of insult could potentially be considered, violations of the May 18 Special Act and defamation would be difficult to recognize.

It was also reported that, since Shinsegae Group is cooperating with the investigation by submitting its own audit materials, the prosecution requested that the police conduct a voluntary investigation instead. However, it was pointed out that there are clear limitations to the internal audit, as three out of five employees from the team responsible for the ‘Tank Day’ promotion refused to submit their mobile phones to management.

Previously, Starbucks Korea faced controversy for allegedly disparaging the May 18 Democratic Uprising by using the promotional phrases "Tank Day" and "Bang the Desk" during a promotion held on May 15. As a result, civic groups filed complaints with the police against Starbucks Korea and Shinsegae Group.

Legal experts predict that the police may reapply for a search and seizure warrant, while also requesting the voluntary submission of mobile phones from the three Starbucks employees who refused to hand them over.

At first, the police stated that Shinsegae Group's internal audit would be treated only as reference material and that they would independently uncover the facts. However, since the rejection of the search and seizure warrant, a month has passed without securing any evidence, due to ongoing disagreements between the police and the prosecution.

On June 17, the police only went as far as summoning Yang Jonghwan, head of Shinsegae Group’s audit team (Executive Director), as a witness to question him. It is reported that during the questioning, the police focused on when and how the results of this audit were reported to Chairman Chung Yongjin.

Some interpret these moves as attempts to find a breakthrough in the investigation by examining whether the company concealed unfavorable circumstances or whether higher-level executives may have been involved in the process.

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