Starbucks Korea to shut stores for history lessons after ‘Tank Day’ furore
Summary
Starbucks stores in South Korea will close early next week to give employees lessons on history after a marketing campaign upset many people. The campaign by Starbucks Korea mistakenly referred to an important and painful event in South Korea’s fight for democracy, causing public anger and the firing of the local CEO.Key Facts
- Starbucks Korea used the term “Tank Day” and the date “5/18” to promote coffee tumblers, reminding people of the 1980 military crackdown on a pro-democracy protest in Gwangju.
- The 1980 crackdown involved the military violently stopping a student-led protest against a military leader, resulting in hundreds or possibly thousands of deaths.
- The campaign caused public outrage because it seemed disrespectful to an important moment in South Korean history.
- Starbucks Korea’s CEO, Son Jung-hyun, was fired due to the marketing mistake.
- Starbucks’ worldwide headquarters said the error was unintentional but should not have happened.
- All Starbucks stores in South Korea will close at 3pm on a Monday next week for employee training on history and social sensitivity.
- This is the first time since Starbucks opened in South Korea in 1999 that all stores will close early together.
- Shinsegae Group, the operator of Starbucks Korea, said top leaders will also attend the training separately the following Wednesday.
- South Korea has over 2,000 Starbucks stores, making it the chain’s second-largest market after China.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.