# Why is Starbucks Korea temporarily closing all of its stores?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-in-the-world-6570991/why-is-starbucks-korea-temporarily-closing-all-of-its-stores
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-in-the-world-6570991/why-is-starbucks-korea-temporarily-closing-all-of-its-stores.md
Podcast: [What in the World](https://stenobird.com/podcast/what-in-the-world-6570991)
Published: 2026-06-17T13:33:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct9922
Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nsh8vm.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/what-in-the-world-6570991/episodes/why-is-starbucks-korea-temporarily-closing-all-of-its-stores
Duration seconds: 682

## Resource

People in South Korea have been smashing their Starbucks mugs with hammers, a CEO has been fired and there have been protests on the streets, but why? Starbucks is the number one coffee chain in South Korea with over 2000 branches. Recently they launched a marketing campaign for a new reusable tumbler "SS Tank" and they've faced huge backlash. The release was on the same day as the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a sad day in the history of the country which left more than a 200 people dead. So what impact have the boycotts had? And what happens next? Jake Kwon the BBC's Seoul correspondent tells us about the Tank Day promotion, the financial implications and the wider context of the upset this has caused. We also hear from young people in South Korea on what they think about the boycott. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Benita Barden and Emma-Louise Amanshia Editor: Verity Wilde

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## Transcript

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