South Korean Starbucks Stores to Close for Mandatory History Lesson Amid Backlash In a move aimed at addressing public and political outcry, Starbucks Korea has announced that it will temporarily close all 2,000+ stores across the country on June 22nd. The unprecedented closures, which will take place at 3pm, are part of a company-wide effort to educate employees on modern Korean history and promote social sensitivity training. The decision comes after a recent promotional campaign sparked controversy by evoking memories of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy massacre that remains a sensitive topic in South Korea. By shutting down stores for a half-day, Starbucks Korea hopes to provide a platform for staff to engage with the company's history and address concerns raised by the public and politicians alike.
The closures, so employees can watch a recorded lecture, will cost the company an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in salesStarbucks Korea will simultaneously close all its stores for a mandatory history lesson, after a disastrous promotion that evoked memories of a pro-democracy massacre sparked public and political backlash.More than 2,000 stores will temporarily close at 3pm on 22 June, the company said, so staff can watch recorded lectures on modern Korean history and engage in “social sensitivity” training. The half-day closures will cost Starbucks an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in lost sales, according to data firm IGAWorks. Continue reading...
