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[Anchor]

Police investigating allegations that Starbucks mocked those who contributed to the May 18 Democratization Movement through its "Tank Day" event have conducted a raid on Starbucks Korea's headquarters. Police reportedly uncovered circumstances indicating that Shinsegae Group's internal audit was conducted improperly.

Reporter Jeong Jiyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's metropolitan investigation unit launched a surprise raid on the Starbucks Korea headquarters in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, starting at 8:50 a.m. today (August 5).

This marks the first compulsory investigation 76 days after launching the probe, with some 40 investigators deployed.

Ahead of May 18, Starbucks faced widespread public criticism for using phrases like "Tank Day" and "hitting the desk" in an event promotional post, which was widely condemned as an explicit mockery of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

[Chung Yong-jin / Chairman of Shinsegae Group : I will offer no excuses. All responsibility for this matter lies with me. It is my fault.]

May 18 democratization contributors and civic groups filed complaints and accusations against Chairman Chung and others for violating the special act on the May 18 Democratization Movement, as well as for insult and defamation.

In the search and seizure warrant, police specified the charge that Starbucks insulted contributors to the May 18 Democratization Movement, including figures like Bak Jong-cheol, through the event.

Police reportedly uncovered deficiencies after reviewing the internal audit materials of Starbucks Korea previously submitted by Shinsegae Group.

At the time of announcing the internal audit results, Shinsegae Group revealed that three out of five employees on the event management team, including an executive, refused to submit their mobile phones, thereby fueling suspicions of a "flawed audit."

It was confirmed that the targets of this raid included the mobile phones of former Starbucks Korea CEO Sohn Jeong-hyun and executives and staff members responsible for planning the "Tank Day" promotional material.

Based on the seized materials, police plan to determine whether the "Tank Day" event was planned with the intent to insult contributors to the May 18 Democratization Movement.

(Photo courtesy of: Kang Si-woo | Video Editing: Jang Hyun-ki | Design: Seo Seung-hyun)