SEOUL, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Police raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea on Wednesday over allegations of defamation stemming from the coffee chain's controversial marketing campaign that evoked painful memories of the May 18 pro-democracy uprising.

The search and seizure took place over the company's "Tank Day" campaign on the anniversary of the May 18 democracy movement, which critics said evoked the 1980 military crackdown on the uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

A civic group earlier filed a complaint against Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin over alleged insult and defamation against the uprising victims and their bereaved family members.

E-Mart, a key affiliate of Shinsegae Group, holds the controlling stake in Starbucks Korea.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

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