South Korean authorities have taken a dramatic step in a growing controversy surrounding Starbucks Korea, with police raiding the company's headquarters and executives' homes in connection with a marketing promotion deemed insensitive to the country's painful past. The campaign, which coincided with the 43rd anniversary of the Gwangju massacre, a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1980, has sparked widespread outrage and accusations of trivialising the country's struggle for freedom. The move by South Korean police marks a significant escalation in the backlash against Starbucks Korea, which has faced intense criticism from politicians, activists, and ordinary citizens alike. As the investigation unfolds, the company's reputation in South Korea hangs in the balance.
Coffee chain faced backlash over marketing promotion tied to anniversary of Gwangju massacreSouth Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign accused of trivialising the country’s 1980s pro-democracy movement.Investigators searched the building in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday. No further details were released, although South Korean media reported that officers also searched the homes of the Starbucks Korea executives. Continue reading...
