Starbucks’ Korean sales fall after backlash to ‘Tank Day’ ad campaign
Starbucks Korea has experienced a significant decline in sales following backlash from a controversial marketing campaign. The campaign, which referenced a violent military crackdown on pro-democracy protests, sparked public outrage and led to calls for boycotts. In response, the chairman of Shinsegae Group issued a public apology and took responsibility for the incident.
- ▪Starbucks Korea's sales have dropped significantly after a marketing campaign evoking a 1980 military crackdown.
- ▪The campaign was launched on the anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, leading to public outcry and criticism.
- ▪Shinsegae Group's chairman apologized and stated that the responsibility lies with management, not the employees.
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Economy|ProtestsStarbucks’ Korean sales fall after backlash to ‘Tank Day’ ad campaignCoffee chain has seen ‘very significant’ drop in sales after campaign that evoked deadly crackdown, local operator says.ListenListen (3 mins)SaveClick here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoChung Yong-jin, chairman of Shinsegae Group, bows to apologise in Seoul, South Korea, on May 26, 2026 [Lee Jin-man/AP]By Reuters and The Associated PressPublished On 26 May 202626 May 2026Starbucks Korea has suffered a “very significant” drop in sales after a marketing campaign that evoked a brutal 1980 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters triggered a public outcry, according to the coffee chain’s local operator.Shinsegae Group, whose…
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