Controversy Over Starbucks' 'Tank Day' Continues as PPP Figure and Former Youth Innovation Committee Chair Says 'May 18 Was an Uprising'

\r\n
[Financial News]  As criticism continues over Starbucks' recent 'Tank Day' event and accusations of denigrating the May 18 Democratic Uprising, controversy is growing after it was revealed that a former People Power Party election campaign official left a comment on social media saying, "May 18 was an uprising."
According to Kyunghyang Shinmun on the 21st, A, who served as Youth Innovation Committee Chair of the People Power Party's Central Election Management Committee during the last presidential election, left a comment on an Instagram post honoring May 18 victims on the 18th, saying, "May 18 was an uprising."
When other users protested in response, A reportedly reiterated his position, saying, "A person who calls an uprising an uprising." The comment has since been deleted.
A has described himself on his Threads account as a former member of the People Power Party's presidential campaign team. It was also reported that the post included a photo of an appointment letter from Kim Moon-soo, then the party's presidential candidate, naming him as "Youth Innovation Committee Chair of the Central Election Management Committee's Organizational Integration Headquarters."
In response to a query from Kyunghyang Shinmun about the comment, A reportedly said, "Appointment letters are handed out to anyone, and I did not actually take part in campaign activities," adding, "I was just an ordinary responsible party member." He also said, "I admit that the remarks were inappropriate."
The People Power Party said, "We respect the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The comment was only a personal opinion," drawing a clear line between the remarks and the party's official position.
\r\n\r\n
Amid the recent controversy over Starbucks' 'Tank Day' promotion, inappropriate remarks by People Power Party figures regarding May 18 have continued to draw criticism.
The People Power Party Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Party posted on its official Threads account on the 19th, "I'll stop by Starbucks tomorrow and then head to work," and the controversy grew after Kim Sun-min, the party's candidate for mayor of Geoje, commented, "I should go there and eat a sandwich."
It was also reported that the account manager replied, "Tomorrow morning, it's a sandwich," joining in the exchange.
After the post drew criticism online, the People Power Party Chungcheongbuk-do Provincial Party deleted it and issued an official apology.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter