South Korean ministry to shun Starbucks vouchers in \u2018Tank Day\u2019\ncampaign backlash<\/p>\n
SEOUL: South Korea\u2019s Interior Minister said his ministry would stop\noffering products from companies that \u201cmake light\u201d of the country\u2019s\ndemocratic history, after a public outcry over a Starbucks Korea\nmarketing campaign that evoked a brutal 1980 military crackdown on\npro-democracy protesters.<\/p>\n
The coffee chain launched its \u201cTank Day\u201d campaign on the same day as\nthe anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju uprising, when the then-military\ngovernment sent in troops and tanks to suppress mass rallies for\ndemocracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cConduct that makes light of that history or consumes it as\ncommercial material is an issue that can never be taken lightly,\u201d Yun\nHo-jung wrote on X late on Thursday (May 21), expressing deep regret\nover what he called Starbucks Korea\u2019s \u201canti-historical conduct\u201d and\nsaying the Ministry of the Interior and Safety would no longer offer\nproducts from companies that made light of the history and value of\ndemocracy or used it as commercial material.<\/p>\n
Shinsegae Group, the coffee chain\u2019s South Korean licensee, fired\nStarbucks\u2019 local chief executive this week over the campaign, saying it\nwas inappropriate.<\/p>\n
When asked for comment about the vouchers, Shinsegae referred to\nTuesday\u2019s public apology by Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin.<\/p>\n
Government agencies, including the Interior Ministry, usually offer\ngift vouchers such as coffee coupons to people who join surveys,\ncontests and public participation events, Yun said.<\/p>\n
He urged other organisations and the public to follow his ministry\u2019s\nexample.<\/p>\n
The Interior Ministry oversees government administration, and\ndisaster and safety management.<\/p>\n
Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oheul also criticised\nStarbucks in an X post late on Thursday, saying his ministry would\nstrengthen monitoring to prevent the spread of false information related\nto the uprising.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people are estimated to have died or gone missing when\nthe military dictatorship of Chun Doo-hwan cracked down on the protests\nin Gwangju.<\/p>\n
Many details remain unconfirmed, including who gave the order to open\nfire.<\/p>\n
Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin acknowledged the pain the\ncampaign had caused in his apology this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI deeply bow in apology as the representative of the group,\u201d Chung\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The marketing \u201cdeeply hurt the public, the bereaved families, and the\nvictims of the May 18 demonstration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The uproar has also prompted boycott calls from consumers on social\nmedia platforms and complaints filed to the police against Chung,\naccording to Seoul police.<\/p>\n
Starbucks is the leading food and beverage chain in South Korea in\nterms of the estimated number of customers in the six months to\nFebruary, according to data firm WISEAPP.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/south-korean-ministry-to-shun-starbucks-vouchers-in-tank-day-campaign-backlash-1779542258", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }