Starbucks Korea Fires CEO After Gwangju Uprising-Themed Ad Sparks Backlash
Starbucks Korea dismissed CEO Son Jung-hyun after a May 18 'Tank Day' promotional campaign tied to the Gwangju Uprising drew outrage, with slogans and imagery referencing the dictatorship era; the backlash prompted internal investigations, leadership changes, and a public apology, as well as calls for accountability from authorities and renewed scrutiny of the company’s leadership and past rhetoric.