Starbucks Faces Backlash in South Korea Over Controversial Marketing
ArchivedGlobal|3 articles|3 sources|2 blocks
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NarrativeRadar Analysis·Reviewed by M. Reyes·AI-assisted, editorially supervised·Based on 3 articles from 3 sources
Starbucks' South Korean branch sparked public outrage with a marketing campaign referencing the 1980 Gwangju massacre. The backlash affects the brand's reputation and sales in a key Asian market. The controversy raises questions about corporate sensitivity to historical events in advertising.
Reported Facts
Observable data points shared across all narratives
- •Starbucks South Korea launched a 'Tank Day' marketing campaign that included imagery linked to the Gwangju massacre.
- •The Gwangju massacre occurred in May 1980 and is a highly sensitive historical event in South Korea.
- •Public protests and social media criticism intensified immediately after the campaign's launch in May 2026.
- •Starbucks South Korea issued a public apology acknowledging the insensitivity of the campaign.
- •The controversy has led to calls for boycotts of Starbucks stores across South Korea.
What Could Happen If...
- ▸If Starbucks South Korea withdraws the campaign and increases local cultural sensitivity training the brand could restore some consumer trust and stabilize sales in the South Korean market.
Market Exposure
StocksSBUXDownward Pressure
Negative publicity in South Korea may reduce Starbucks' sales and investor confidence, putting downward pressure on its stock price.
This is not investment advice. Market exposure is based on conditional event analysis.
Source Coverage
WEST
1 articles
FINANCE
2 articles
Signals
Cross-block coverage detectedMultiple blocks covering the same event
Related Events
▸Starbucks Korea Sales Drop After ‘Tank Day’ Ad BacklashOngoing▸Starbucks Korea CEO Fired Over Controversial 'Tank Day' PromotionArchived▸Starbucks Faces Investor Pressure for Stronger Profits Amid TurnaroundArchived▸Starbucks Sales Surge Despite Weak US Consumer SentimentArchived▸Starbucks awards bonuses and expands tipping for baristas
Primary Sources (3)
WESTLe Monde - InternationalEn Corée du Sud, la branche locale de Starbucks déclenche un tollé avec des références au massacre de GwangjuFINANCESeeking Alpha - Market NewsThe Starbucks brand faces more backlash in South KoreaFINANCEFinancial Times - WorldStarbucks grapples with backlash in South Korea after ‘Tank Day’ marketing mis-step