Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin has issued a public apology regarding the 'Tank Day' event. Despite the investigation revealing no intentional wrongdoing, the public outcry has not easily subsided. The current media and political discourse in South Korea are shamelessly infringing upon individual and market freedoms, with their conscience and intellect surgically removed.

The scene of connecting a tumbler image to history and linking product launch dates to weave a bizarre conspiracy theory bears a chilling resemblance to China's method of 'Xiao Fenghong (Red Guard) style ideological censorship and historical entrenchment,' which links numbers and history. Focusing reason on this gloomy comedy, dominated by fake news and forced interpretations, reveals the destruction of human emotional freedom and the oppression of the market.

Resembles China's 'Xiao Fenghong (Red Guard) Style Ideological Censorship'

From the mad cow disease agitation in 2008, the Cheonan sinking conspiracy theory in 2010, the Sewol ferry tragedy in 2014, and the 2023 Fukushima treated water issue, to today's Starbucks incident, the method of attacking disliked opponents by feeding on social conflict has remained consistently the same. If there is a target, an intent is fabricated, and if there is no causal relationship, fragments are gathered to sow seeds of doubt with "Could it be?", leading blind followers to rage with the "spear of justice."

Just as we faced the truth at the end of the mad cow disease frenzy, we will see a typical specimen of attack and defense mechanisms used by leftist totalitarian forces when hunting opponents in this incident involving tanks and sirens.

Those who exploit conflict for political gain will: ∆manufacture intent or exploit the silence of the majority with doubts of "Could it be?" when the other side has no ill intentions; ∆expand their beliefs through unilateral dogma and suppress dissent; and ∆when their tactics are exposed, shamelessly hide behind the shield of "So what?"

Deconstructing this crude political sorcery falls within the domain of a free person's inherent pride and is the responsibility of those with a conscience who uphold principles and common sense.

▲Phase 1 (Attack): Fabricate Intent, or Paralyze Reason with "Could it be?" if No Intent Exists

Who authored the problematic advertising proposal? Was there intentional intervention, verified by email forensics of the symbolic designs sent and received? The question of whether it was an intentional, aggressive attack to create social issues must be examined.

When the devils who generate conflict perform their propaganda rituals, the first weapon they wield, much like the mad cow disease incident, is the deliberate production of conflict and the subtle raising of suspicion – in other words, the psychological trap of "Could it be?". In place of facts and logic, they incite the public by filling the void with anxiety and emotional sanctity. "Could it be that a large corporation would use such numbers on a specific day without any intention?"

They are not interested in the company's apology or explanation. To punish one businessman who once shouted "anti-communism" for past offenses, they wield the history of May 18th like a club, linger by gravesites, verbally abuse employees, and engage in collective madness by scrutinizing others' tastes.

This precisely aligns with Mao Zedong's third-rate ruling tactic of inciting Red Guards to publicly shame intellectuals and capitalists. The Red Guard-like behavior of targeting celebrities' speech and actions to force their withdrawal is being replicated verbatim in the heart of South Korea.

▲Phase 2 (Expansion): Expand Territory with 'Siren's' Incitement and Stigmatization

Once the trap of suspicion is laid among the public and media, the devils exhibit high mobility through 'incitement' to spread their intentions. They paralyze public reason with selective memory of the Greek myth where the sea witch 'Siren' lured sailors to their deaths with her sweet songs, and inject the logic of their camp as absolute good.

Once this incitement maneuver succeeds, they immediately apply 'stigma' and establish their territory. Is it acceptable to push for the abolition of 'Ilgan Best' (a conservative online community), which was once a communication channel for young conservatives, by labeling it a social menace and absolute evil, and to pursue social isolation by labeling all legitimate criticism and dissenting opinions as 'deep-rooted evils'?

▲Phase 3 (Counterattack): If Intentional False Conspiracy is Exposed, Respond with "So What?" Shamelessness

Even meticulously crafted propaganda sets eventually reveal their falsity in broad daylight. If the conspiracy theory targeting the tumbler marketing is exposed as fallacious and an intentional overinterpretation, the instigators and their loyalists will respond not with remorse but with unblushing "So what?"

When their lies are uncovered, they retreat by claiming it was "a query for the public good" and, despite infringing on large corporations' businesses, they raise their voices, saying, "Can't we even express doubt?". The Nazi regime, which waged a boycott against Jews, displayed shamelessness and a lack of shame even when their ignorance and atrocities were exposed. This attitude is a terrifying evil that destroys national and corporate systems, and it is the true face of totalitarianism created by the collusion of ignorant followers and power.

▲The Great Counterattack of Collective Intelligence's Absolute Ring: Questions Posed with Conscience and Courage

The current Starbucks incident has prompted young people to question the situation and ask questions.

∆Should a business leader overseeing over 23,000 employees bear infinite responsibility beyond public criticism when problems arise, while politicians are pardoned even for clear offenses?

∆Is the state and government, which should protect the free market economy, leading a boycott movement not grounds for impeachment?

∆What is the constitutional basis for past history hindering the present? Is it permissible to shrink universal values and the pluralism of liberal democracy with historical victimhood?

Meanwhile, the young people who observed the Starbucks incident have evolved the "So what?" defense mechanism used by instigators into a more potent version, piercing the hearts of their targets.

"So what? I'll drink Starbucks coffee with my own money."

In the past, they might have cowered in fear of the frenzy, but this time was different. The public responded with cold cynicism to the despicable Red Guard-style incitement that led to the indictment of a major conglomerate's chairman.

"The shelf life of that third-rate incitement ended during the mad cow disease incident."

The sharp weapon that disarms collective madness is the expression of an individual's will to protect freedom and a market economy. No matter how much they beat the drums of incitement in the public square and perform rituals of judicial condemnation, citizens who have learned the value of freedom have already turned their backs and left the stage of incitement.

Madness first succumbs to the public's cold cynicism and indifference. The current Starbucks incident will serve as a watershed moment, proving that the public is no longer fooled by Red Guard-style incitement. The era of awakened, free collective intelligence guided by conscience is dawning. If we possess the conscience and courage to resist injustice, I hope this will be an opportunity to exercise our precious sovereignty, judge hypocritical villains, and establish the rule of law to save South Korea.

◆ Park Pil-gyu, Committee Member

Editorial Committee Member, Hankook Ilbo

40th graduating class, Korea Military Academy