Police Question Shinsegae Audit Head Over Starbucks Korea Promotion

Police said Wednesday they are questioning the head of Shinsegae Group's audit team over allegations tied to a promotional campaign by Starbucks Korea.

, launched an online "Tank Day" promotion on May 18. '". The campaign drew criticism because "tank" recalled military actions during the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy movement. "Tak" also reminded people of student activist Park Jong-cheol, who died in 1987 after being tortured.

Group said last month it found no evidence the promotion intended to mock the Gwangju movement. The group acknowledged limitations in its inspection after some officials declined to submit mobile phones for digital forensics. Police are expected to seek search and seizure warrants to obtain the mobile phone data.

A notice posted outside a Starbucks store in Seoul on June 17 informed customers of an early closure on June 22. The company scheduled mandatory history education for all employees after the campaign drew criticism.