South Korea’s Starbucks Boycott: Is the Ban Still in Effect?

Cho Seung-rae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party, said on the 27th that the party’s recommendation asking members to refrain from patronizing Starbucks outlets remains in effect even after Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin apologized over the “Tank Day” marketing. Cho told an SBS radio program that, when asked about calls from figures like Kim Bu-gyeom, the party’s candidate for Daegu mayor, to let the matter rest, “We must distinguish between whether Chung and other executives hold mistaken views about historical or social events—such as the May 18 Gwangju Uprising or the Sewol ferry disaster—and matters relating to the company.” He added that the party will continue to raise concerns about executives’ managerial conduct, distorted interpretations of history, and problematic value systems. When asked whether the advisory against visiting Starbucks remains in place, Cho replied, “It remains in effect for now.” Meanwhile, Kim, the Democratic Party’s Daegu mayoral candidate, said, “Chung Yong-jin apologized for the Starbucks controversy and clearly accepted responsibility,” and urged the government and the ruling party to trust the public and allow events to play out.