South Korea's Starbucks to shut for staff history lesson after backlash
Summary
Starbucks stores in South Korea will close for half a day next week so all staff can take a history lesson. This follows public anger over a "Tank Day" promotion that was seen as insensitive to a deadly 1980 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.Key Facts
- Starbucks Korea will close all stores at 3 p.m. local time for three hours next Wednesday for staff training on historical awareness.
- The training includes watching videos to teach about the social and historical sensitivity of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising.
- The "Tank Day" campaign promoted reusable tumblers called the Tank Series and coincided with the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, where at least 165 civilians were killed by military forces.
- The campaign caused strong public backlash, protests outside stores, and a significant drop in Starbucks Korea sales.
- Starbucks Korea's CEO was fired immediately after the controversy.
- Shinsegae Group, which operates Starbucks in South Korea, said they used an AI tool to help create the promotion slogan.
- South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung publicly condemned the campaign as inhumane and disgraceful.
- The Gwangju Uprising is a key event in South Korea’s move toward democracy and involved serious human rights abuses by the military.
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