Episode
Starbucks Korea Closes Early for Sensitivity Training
- Published
- Jun 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 101
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Summary
Starbucks Korea is shutting down all stores early on June 22 for mandatory history and sensitivity training after a controversial marketing campaign sparked nationwide outrage. The campaign, centered around “SS Tank” tumblers and “Tank Day,” unintentionally trivialized the 1980 Gwangju Uprising—a brutal military crackdown that killed hundreds. The slogan “Thwack it on the table!” further inflamed tensions by referencing a cover-up of a student activist’s torture death. The backlash led to the campaign’s cancellation, the firing of the CEO, and a public apology from the parent company, Shinsegae. This unprecedented store-wide closure marks the first time since 1999 that Starbucks Korea has shut down all locations early for such a reason, signaling a serious commitment to accountability and learning from its grave misstep. Support the show: Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: [email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/7788abbde2143d22