Starbucks Korea to close stores early for mandatory history training
12 reported
Starbucks’ South Korean operation announced Monday that all stores nationwide will close early on June 22 for mandatory history and social sensitivity training. The move follows backlash over a marketing campaign perceived as mocking victims of a 1980 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju. Shinsegae Group, which owns a 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea, said executives and headquarters employees will attend training led by history and sociology professors on Wednesday. All stores will close at 3 p.m. next Monday so employees can watch a recording of the session. The coffee chain triggered uproar by promoting stainless-steel tumblers called “SS Tank” and declaring May 18 as “Tank Day,” the anniversary of the 1980 uprising. The campaign also used the slogan “Thwack it on the table!” which many read as a reference to a 1987 police statement covering up the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chol. Shinsegae canceled the promotion within hours, fired the Starbucks Korea chief executive, and Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a nationally televised apology as police opened an investigation.
What’s reported
Starbucks Korea will close all stores early on June 22 for mandatory history and social sensitivity training.
Shinsegae Group owns a 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea.
Group executives and headquarters employees will attend training led by history and sociology professors on Wednesday.
All stores will close at 3 p.m. on June 22 so employees can watch a recording of the session.
The marketing campaign promoted “SS Tank” tumblers and declared May 18 as “Tank Day,” the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising.
The slogan “Thwack it on the table!” was perceived as referencing a 1987 police statement about the torture death of student activist Park Jong-chol.
Shinsegae canceled the promotion within hours and fired the Starbucks Korea chief executive.
Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a nationally televised apology; police opened an investigation following complaints from relatives of Gwangju crackdown victims.
Chung will undergo separate training with Shinsegae affiliate chief executives on June 24.
This is the first time Starbucks stores in South Korea have closed early since the chain’s 1999 launch.
Government records show about 200 people died in Gwangju; activists say the true death toll was much higher.
The 1980 crackdown occurred months after General Chun Doo-hwan seized power in a coup in late 1979.
Key figures
Shinsegae Group (owner of 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea)
Chung Yong-jin (Shinsegae Chairman)
Park Jong-chol (student activist, deceased)
General Chun Doo-hwan (former military leader)
Starbucks Korea chief executive (fired, name not provided in article)
Sources: abcnews.com
