“Tank, Your Drink Is Ready”: Starbucks Becomes a Playground for Hate... May 18 Groups Demand Action

"Ordinary Spaces Turned Into Playgrounds for Hate"

Double Burden on Staff Exposed to Hate and Ridicule

Call for Response Manual and Measures to Protect Employees

Recently, some Starbucks locations have seen expressions mocking the May 18 Democratization Movement used as order nicknames and elsewhere, prompting May 18-related organizations to criticize the company’s complacent response and urge it to establish measures to prevent recurrence. They also called for the creation of response manuals and support systems to protect on-site employees.

Words used to belittle former President Roh Moo-hyun and President Lee Jae-myung displayed on the queue electronic board at Starbucks Gwanghwamun branch. Screenshot from X (formerly Twitter)

On June 2, the May 18 Memorial Foundation and three legally recognized affiliated organizations (the Association of the Injured, the Association of Meritorious Persons, and the Bereaved Families Association) released a statement, saying, "Cafes, which should be everyday cultural spaces, are being transformed into playgrounds for hate by certain groups," and expressed deep concern about the indiscriminate spread of actions ridiculing the May 18 Democratization Movement and specific individuals both online and offline.

Starbucks provides a service where customers can choose a nickname to be called when their order is ready. There have been reports that some people have exploited this by registering nicknames that belittle the May 18 Democratization Movement or particular politicians, thereby using it as a tool for mockery at some stores.

The organizations criticized, "The continuation of these problems is because Starbucks responded in a complacent and passive manner to the May 18 insult marketing incident that occurred internally."

They further pointed out, "The company is passing on the blame for its wrongdoing and the resulting social criticism directly to front-line employees," adding, "Employees who have had to face public criticism firsthand are now exposed once again, without protection, to indiscriminate hatred and ridicule occurring inside the store, suffering a double burden."

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The organizations stated, "A sincere apology can only be proven through practical actions and measures to correct wrongdoing," and called on Starbucks to create an effective response manual that can block hate speech and derogatory acts while protecting employees.

They also demanded: ▲ the establishment of standards to block political and social hate speech and derogatory acts in stores; ▲ restrictions on store use for customers who mock, incite, or ridicule the May 18 Democratization Movement or specific individuals; and ▲ guarantees of psychological counseling and legal support for affected employees.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.