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🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Yun Ho-jung: 'We Will Not Use Starbucks Gift Certificates for Government Events' - Effectively Declaring a Boycott

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Minister of the Interior and Safety of South Korea announced that Starbucks products will no longer be provided at government events.
  • This decision follows a controversy where Starbucks Korea used the phrase 'Tank Day' for an event commemorating the May 18th Democratic Uprising.
  • The ministry expressed deep regret over Starbucks Korea's 'anti-historical behavior' and called for other public institutions to join the boycott.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has taken a firm stance against Starbucks Korea's deeply regrettable and anti-historical actions. Minister Yun Ho-jung declared that government events will cease using Starbucks products, effectively signaling a boycott of the coffee chain. This decisive move comes after Starbucks Korea ignited controversy by using the phrase 'Tank Day' for an event commemorating the May 18th Democratic Uprising, a significant historical event in South Korea's struggle for democracy.

I express deep regret over the anti-historical behavior of Starbucks Korea, which has recently caused controversy.

· Minister Yun Ho-jungThe Minister of the Interior and Safety stated this in response to Starbucks Korea's controversial event.

Minister Yun expressed profound regret over Starbucks Korea's insensitivity, stating, "I express deep regret over the anti-historical behavior of Starbucks Korea, which has recently caused controversy." He further elaborated that while government agencies have utilized mobile gift certificates, including coffee vouchers, for various events, the ministry will now refrain from providing products from companies that trivialize the history and values of democracy or exploit them for commercial purposes.

From now on, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will not provide products from companies that trivialize the history and values of democracy or use them as commercial material.

· Minister Yun Ho-jungThe Minister announced the new policy regarding the provision of products at government events.

This action is not merely a symbolic gesture. The Ministry is urging other public institutions and citizens to join in this boycott, emphasizing the need for collective solidarity in upholding historical respect. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cultural and historical sensitivity, especially for multinational corporations operating within South Korea. The government's response underscores a commitment to protecting national historical memory and values from commercial exploitation.

I hope that many institutions and citizens will empathize with this measure by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

· Minister Yun Ho-jungThe Minister called for broader participation in the boycott beyond government agencies.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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