The controversy over Starbucks Korea's "May 18 Tank Day" event is spreading across the country's financial sector and public service. Several banks and credit card companies have halted or postponed Starbucks-related coupons and partnership products, and a civil servants' union has joined the boycott movement, intensifying the fallout.
According to financial industry sources on Tuesday, NH NongHyup Bank changed its promotional offering on the All One Bank app immediately after the controversy. The bank had been giving out Starbucks iced Americano coupons to customers who correctly predicted NC Dinos baseball game outcomes, but switched the rewards to Twosome Place coupons.
Kwangju Bank also suspended Starbucks product and coupon giveaway events at its head office departments and branches starting on the 20th. "We understand the change was decided as customer complaints over Starbucks coupon distribution continued," a financial industry official said.
In contrast, KB Kookmin Bank has maintained its Starbucks-related services. Last year, KB Kookmin Bank became the first in the banking sector to launch a Starbucks partnership product, the "KB Byeolbyeol Account." The service provides a Starbucks Americano coupon for monthly deposits of 500,000 won or more, and offers additional Starbucks Star rewards when customers use the Siren Order. However, the "KB Byeolbyeol Account" is currently unavailable for new subscriptions as its sales quota has been exhausted. No separate service suspension measures have been reported so far.
The credit card industry is also closely monitoring the situation. Shinhan Card, which signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Starbucks on the 7th and planned to launch the "Starbucks Shinhan Card" within the first half of this year, has postponed the product launch to the second half or later.
Woori Card launched the "Star Travel Woori Card" last month, which allows customers to earn reward Stars at Starbucks locations worldwide. At domestic Starbucks stores, customers can earn one Star for every 20,000 won spent with no cap, and overseas, they can earn three Stars per 20,000 won spent at all merchants including Starbucks, up to a monthly maximum of 30 Stars.
"Regarding the Star Travel Woori Card, there have been no particularly concerning movements so far, but we are carefully monitoring customer reactions and continuing to watch the situation," a Woori Card official said.
◇ Civil Servants' Union: "Please Actively Join the Starbucks Boycott"
The situation is spreading beyond the financial sector into the public service. The Korean Government Employees' Union (KGEU) distributed an official document titled "Request to Join the Starbucks Boycott Over Hate Marketing Controversy Including Disparagement of the May 18 Democratic Uprising" on the 21st, proposing that all branches stop using Starbucks.
In the document, the KGEU said, "There are many cases where Starbucks gift cards and tumblers are purchased and given as congratulatory gifts to union members." The union added, "The KGEU, which holds democracy and human rights as its principles, takes this situation seriously and proposes a boycott of Starbucks. We ask for your active participation."
The Korea Federation of Government Employee Unions (GEPU) has also decided to refrain from using Starbucks gift cards for the time being. The federation issued a directive to refrain from using Starbucks gift cards, accepting a proposal made at a secretariat meeting on the 20th.
◇ Interior Minister Expresses Regret… Will "Starbucks Coupons" Be Removed from Government Events?
Earlier, Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, said via his X (formerly Twitter) account on the 21st, "Democracy was built on the sacrifices and devotion of countless citizens." He added, "I express deep regret over the recent anti-historical behavior of Starbucks Korea that has caused public concern."
He continued, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, along with other government agencies, has been using mobile gift certificates such as coffee vouchers for surveys, contests, and citizen participation events. Taking this incident as an opportunity, we will no longer provide products from companies that take the history of democracy and social values lightly or use them as commercial material."
The remarks are interpreted as effectively meaning that Starbucks gift certificates will be excluded from government events and public functions. Accordingly, observers in and around government circles expect that the use of Starbucks mobile coupons—previously employed for various event prizes and civil participation rewards—may decrease.
