Police investigating the Starbucks "Tank Day promotion" controversy have launched a forced investigation into Starbucks Korea, two months after beginning their probe based on complaints filed by civic groups.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit is conducting a search and seizure at the Starbucks Korea headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, this morning (August 5).

It was learned that the warrant for the search and seizure specifies charges including defamation and insult.