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[Herald Economy = Reporter Kim Kwang-woo] President Lee Jae-myung criticized Starbucks Korea — which drew controversy over its \”Tank Day\” marketing — for releasing a Siren mug on April 16, two years ago, the 10th anniversary of the Sewol ferry disaster, calling the move \”the immoral act of a vicious profiteer.\”
On the afternoon of the 23rd, the president quoted a post by Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Jin-wook on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, \”I hope this isn’t true. No one could possibly do this while hiding behind a mask.\”
Earlier, Starbucks Korea promoted the release of the \”Siren Classic Mug\” as a new mug series on April 16, two years ago. The siren — a mermaid-like figure from Greco-Roman myth — has been part of Starbucks’ logo since the company’s founding in 1971.
Lawmaker Jeong criticized the timing, saying, \”They used the siren (the mythological creature that wrecks ships with song) for an event on the Sewol disaster anniversary.\”
The president added, \”On the Sewol memorial day, when bereaved families were writhing in pain and the public was in mourning, they launched an event that concealed a mocking code like a cipher, insulted the victims, and ridiculed the people while seemingly taking pleasure in it. This isn’t an ‘Ilbe archive’ — it’s an official event by a major corporation, so I have nothing more to say.\”
He went on to say, \”Viewed in context, it’s hard to see the recent Tank Day event held for the May 18 anniversary as accidental; it mocked and insulted the Gwangju democratization movement and the late Park Jong-chul. This habitual, beastlike pattern of profaning victims of state violence and disasters for profit will face public judgment.\”
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