The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency questioned Yang Jong-hwan, head of Shinsegae Group’s audit team, as a witness on Wednesday, according to a company spokesperson. The inquiry is linked to public complaints filed over Starbucks Korea’s “Tank Day” reusable cup promotion held on May 18.

The campaign sparked nationwide outrage because it took place on the 46th anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju uprising, a pro-democracy movement that was violently suppressed by military forces. Official figures state that 165 civilians were killed during the crackdown, although activists and historians have long argued the actual death toll was significantly higher.

Starbucks Korea operates more than 2,000 stores nationwide under a licensing agreement with Shinsegae Group, making South Korea one of the coffee chain’s most important international markets. The controversy quickly escalated into a major corporate crisis, prompting Shinsegae to dismiss the head of its Korean operations on the day the scandal emerged.

Shinsegae Chairman Chung Yong-jin later issued a public apology, acknowledging the seriousness of the incident and expressing regret for the distress caused to victims’ families, survivors and the wider public.

Despite those measures, a civic organization filed a legal complaint against Chung and other company executives. The complaint alleges violations of a 2016 law related to the Gwangju uprising, including provisions prohibiting the dissemination of false information about the historical event. The filing also includes allegations of defamation and insult.

The company said it would cooperate fully with investigators and hoped the facts surrounding the case would be clarified promptly and transparently. Police have not publicly commented on the investigation.

The backlash has had tangible business consequences. According to the company, sales declined sharply in the days immediately following the controversy as public anger intensified. Demonstrations were held in both Seoul and Gwangju, with critics accusing the company of insensitivity toward a defining moment in South Korea’s democratic history.

In response, Starbucks Korea announced that all stores nationwide will close for half a day next Monday to allow employees to attend educational sessions on the Gwangju uprising. Senior executives, including Shinsegae’s chairman, are scheduled to participate in a separate history program later in the week.

An internal review by Shinsegae concluded that a series of procedural failures contributed to the launch of the campaign, including the approval of promotional materials without adequate review of design content and timing.

The controversy also drew criticism from President Lee Jae Myung, who described the incident as “inhumane” and “disgraceful,” reflecting the sensitivity that still surrounds the legacy of the Gwangju uprising more than four decades after it became a symbol of South Korea’s democratic struggle.

The investigation remains ongoing.