Musical actor drops out of show, issues apology over Starbucks post
Musical actor Jung Min-chan / Courtesy of Showplay
Musical actor Jung Min-chan has stepped down from the ongoing musical "Diaghilev" after facing online backlash over a social media post showing him drinking a beverage at Starbucks Korea, which recently came under fire for a marketing campaign criticized as insensitive to a painful chapter in Korea’s modern history.
On Saturday, Jung posted a lengthy apology on his Instagram, stating, "I sincerely apologize for causing discomfort and disappointment to many people due to my recent social media post."
The controversy began after Starbucks Korea faced severe criticism for holding a promotional event named "Tank Day" on May 18, which marks the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising. In Korea, tanks are a sensitive historical symbol associated with violent military suppression of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising.
Although Starbucks Korea issued an official apology, the incident triggered a boycott against the coffee franchise.
Jung sparked outrage by uploading a photo of his visit to a Starbucks store on his social media. When online users criticized the post, his initial response was to claim he was unaware of current news, which triggered more negative reactions as people accused him of lacking sincerity.
As the backlash intensified, Showplay, the production company of the musical "Diaghilev" announced Friday that Jung would step down from his role as Nijinsky, one of the lead characters in the musical. The show premiered in March and is scheduled to run through next month.
"Following extensive discussions, we have decided that Jung Min-chan will withdraw from the production," the production company said in a statement. "We sincerely apologize to the audience for causing concern over this matter and for any confusion caused by this sudden decision."
Following his departure from the show, Jung issued a second apology, admitting his lack of social awareness.
"I posted it without knowing about the recent news and public mood, because I've been busy handling all my shows and rehearsals by myself," Jung wrote. "I didn't mean to send any specific message, but I now realize too late how careless and foolish I was."