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Chung Yong-jin, Chairman of Shinsegae Group, leaves the press conference venue after issuing an apology over the Starbucks “Tank Day” controversy at Josun Palace Hotel in Gangnam, Seoul, on May 26. (Photo: Yonhap News Agency) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, May 27 — South Korea’s telecom operators are scaling back marketing ties with Starbucks Korea following backlash over its recent “Tank Day” promotion.
According to industry sources, KT Corporation removed the Starbucks logo from promotional materials for an ongoing membership event, while LG Uplus canceled part of a planned rewards campaign involving Starbucks benefits.
KT said contractual obligations make immediate changes difficult but noted it will review future partnerships based on customer response. LG Uplus confirmed that additional Starbucks-related promotions are not currently planned.
Meanwhile, SK Telecom said it has no changes to existing partnerships but is not planning new collaborations at this stage.
The controversy stems from a Starbucks promotion criticized for referencing the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, prompting a public apology from Chung Yong-jin. Despite the apology, the incident continues to impact corporate partnerships across industries.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
