Musical actor and trot singer Jung Min-chan has issued an apology after sharing a post featuring a Starbucks drink. The timing of the post has sparked controversy, coming immediately after Starbucks Korea apologized for its “Tank Day” event held on the anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement.
On the 20th, Jung Min-chan posted a photo on his Instagram of a drink provided by a staff member at a Starbucks store, writing, “Why does this taste like makgeolli? I wonder if I’ll get drunk if I drink this.”
The drink in question is the “Seoul Makgeolli-flavored Cold Brew,” a non-alcoholic beverage launched by Starbucks Korea on March 11.
The main issue is the timing. Starbucks Korea faced heavy criticism for its May 18 “Tank Day” event, specifically for using the phrase “Ttak on the desk,” which reminded people of the martial law army’s tanks and the torture-death of activist Park Jong-chol. In response, Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a personal apology on the 18th and dismissed the CEO and relevant executives of Starbucks Korea.
Following public criticism of his Starbucks post, Jung Min-chan released an apology. He stated, “I’m not very aware of the news or current issues because I’ve been focused on my daily life, and I’m overwhelmed by all this attention. Being ignorant is also a fault, so I offer my sincere apologies. I will make an effort to keep up with the news from now on.”
This isn’t the first time Jung Min-chan has used the “I didn’t know” explanation. Back in February, his name and photo appeared on a poster for a “March 1st Independence Movement Freedom Concert” hosted by far-right YouTuber Jeon Han-gil. At the time, Jung announced he would not attend, stating, “I received an offer to appear, but I did not receive a detailed explanation regarding the purpose of the event. I have no relation to or interest in this event.” Other scheduled performers, including Tae Jin-ah and Lee Jae-yong, also cut ties, claiming they were “deceived.”
A former member of the National Ballet Company, Jung Min-chan has expanded his career as a musical actor and trot singer. He is currently performing as the genius ballerino Nijinsky in the musical “Diaghilev.”
