A past controversy involving the SBS variety show Running Man was brought back into public discussion following the recent backlash surrounding Starbucks Korea’s controversial “Tank Day” promotional campaign.
Online users recently revisited a 2019 Running Man aired after criticism erupted over phrases used in Starbucks Korea’s May 18 marketing event.
The controversy dates back to episode 455 of Running Manaired on June 2, 2019. During the episode, the cast competed in minigames while preparing merchandise for the show’s ninth anniversary fan meeting.
At one point, cast member Kim Jong-kook commented that “The yellow team probably chose number one right away” after which Jeon So-min suddenly coughed.
The production team added the caption: “As soon as they picked number one… ack!”
After the broadcast, some viewers criticized the wording for referring to the infamous phrase linked to the 1987 death of student activist Park Jong-chul during police torture.
The phrase echoed a controversial explanation once given by authorities: “He hit the desk and died suddenly.”
At the time, SBS apologized, stating that the caption was only intended as satire relating to the filming situation and had no connection to the historical incident.
The old man Running Man the controversy resurfaced after Starbucks Korea faced massive criticism for a recent cup promotion held on May 18, the anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement.
The campaign reportedly used phrases such as “Tank Day” AND “Slam the desk!” in promotional copy, prompting accusations that the wording evoked painful historical memories linked to military violence and political repression in South Korea.
The negative reaction quickly escalated online, leading Starbucks Korea to discontinue the promotion the same day.
Reports also stated that executives linked to the campaign had been fired following the controversy.
Actor Han Jung-soo joined the growing criticism by posting a photo of a cut-up Starbucks card on social media along with the message: “Let’s stop going there now.”
The post was widely interpreted as support for the ongoing boycott movement against Starbucks Korea.
Meanwhile, some netizens argued that previous entertainment controversies, including the Running Man caption problem – may have contributed to a culture in which sensitive historical references were treated too casually in mainstream media.
The incident reignited a broader discussion in South Korea over the use of historically sensitive language in entertainment and marketing.
Sources: Nate News
