South Korea’s Starbucks to close for staff history lesson on 'Tank day'
Starbucks in South Korea will close its storefronts for a half-day next week so employees can attend a history lesson as the coffee chain faces widespread criticism over a “Tank Day” promotion.
TL;DR
- Starbucks South Korea will close stores early on June 24 for a three-hour staff training session.
- The training focuses on the history of the Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy protest in 1980.
- The closure is a response to widespread criticism over a "Tank day" promotion and its associated "Thwack on the desk" slogan.
- The promotion launched on the anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising and used a slogan that also referenced the death of student activist Park Jong-chul.
- Starbucks Korea's CEO, Son Jeong-hyun, was fired, and the company's owner, Shinsegae Group, issued an apology.
- Protesters demonstrated against the campaign, smashing related merchandise.
- The marketing department stated the slogan was chosen using an AI tool.
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called the campaign "inhumane and disgraceful."
- This is the first nationwide early closure for Starbucks Korea since 1999.