Starbucks Korea to shut stores for history training after ‘Tank Day’ furore

Starbucks Korea will close all stores early on June 15 for mandatory history training sessions for employees. The move follows public backlash over a recent marketing campaign that referenced an event widely recognized in South Korea as ‘Tank Day,’ a sensitive historical reference tied to the 1987 democratic uprising.

Coverage emphasizes the company’s swift response to the controversy, with Reuters and BBC highlighting the training as an effort to ‘avoid further missteps’ and ‘rebuild trust.’ Bloomberg and Al Jazeera note the closure is unprecedented for the brand in Korea, signaling the severity of the fallout. Euronews frames the incident as a clash between global branding and local historical memory, while Al Jazeera underscores the broader implications for foreign corporations operating in markets with deep historical sensitivities.

Watch for updates on whether the training will extend beyond June 15, or if Starbucks Korea announces broader policy changes for future marketing.