Jeong Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party, sharply criticized Starbucks on May 21, questioning the appropriateness of its recent Tank Day event amid ongoing controversies regarding the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.
Speaking at the campaign launch for Daejeon mayoral candidate Heo Tae-jeong, Jeong stated, "We must hold a grateful heart for those who lost their lives during the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement." He emphasized the need for respect and remembrance.
He added, "There’s a Starbucks here too. Starbucks is not good," and highlighted that both Chun Doo-hwan, who declared martial law in Gwangju, and Yoon Suk Yeol, who issued an illegal martial law on December 3, were ultimately subdued by the people.
Jeong remarked, "If the illegal martial law had succeeded, there would be no local elections, and neither Lee Jae-myung nor I would be in this world," recalling the situation as "a chilling experience."
Additionally, Jeong called for support for Heo, noting his experience as both a district mayor and Daejeon mayor, as well as his work at the Blue House.
He concluded by stating, "South Korea is now normalizing," urging voters to elect a capable mayor for Daejeon, similar to the current president's performance.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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