More than 2,000 Starbucks stores are closing early on June 22 after a promotion sparked national outrage

Starbucks Korea announced that all of its over 2,000 stores nationwide will close early on June 22, 2024, for mandatory history and social sensitivity training. This decision follows a widely criticized marketing promotion for stainless-steel tumblers launched on May 18, 2024, which coincided with the 46th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. The promotion, intended to honor what Starbucks Korea referred to as "Tank Day," sparked national outrage and boycotts. In response to the backlash, Shinsegae Group, the majority owner of Starbucks' South Korean operations, fired the chain's chief executive, Sohn Jeong-hyun, on May 18, 2024, and initiated an investigation into the incident. Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a public apology on the Starbucks Korea website, expressing deep responsibility and vowing to prevent recurrence. The upcoming training session, scheduled to be held at the Seoul headquarters and led by history and sociology professors, is part of the company's efforts to regain customer trust. Employees will also view a recording of the session. South Korea represents Starbucks' third-largest market globally, after the United States and China, and this early closure marks the first nationwide event of its kind for the coffee chain since it began operating in the country in 1999.