AI6YR BenJun 16

The Guardian: Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion

"...The Gwangju massacre is a painful memory for many. Over 10 violent days, paratroopers crushed pro-democracy protests against military strongman Chun Doo-hwan. Victims’ groups say hundreds were killed.

Starbucks branded the date of its promotion “Tank Day”. It also featured the slogan “thwack on the desk”, evoking a notorious police explanation for the 1987 torture death of student activist Park Jong-chul. Authorities falsely claimed he had died after an officer “hit the desk with a thwack” during questioning.

Marketers chose the “thwack” slogan after consulting an AI tool for suggestions, Shinsegae Group said...."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/16/starbucks-korea-shut-all-stores-tank-day-promotion

#starbucks #AI #fiasco #korea

Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion

The closures, so employees can watch a recorded lecture, will cost the company an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in sales

The Guardian
Show threadHey GusJun 16
@ai6yr holy cow there is no way this made it all the way through the pipeline without a single person understanding this was a horrible offense.
Show threadneville parkJun 16
@elebertus @ai6yr From the article: "It turned out some managers who approved the campaign never opened the email attachments showing the marketing material."
Show threadSaraJun 16

@nev @elebertus @ai6yr speaking as a middle manager

sometimes you just let things go because otherwise nobody learns

Show threadAI6YR BenJun 16
@sarae @nev @elebertus I am unsure of the business culture in Korea, but if it's anything like Japan, no middle manager or even executive under the CEO dare question any decision handed down to them. It's even quite difficult in the United States. There's a culture of obesiance across most large corporate structures. (I know in Japan, and there's even worse lack of ability to push back due to the history of the country -- i.e. the Emperor's word was law no matter how unfair, etc. Similar to China, as well... China has a long history of removing the heads of middle managers who dare question the Emperor, lol.)
Show threadSara

@ai6yr @nev @elebertus so I've been listening to this series of self help audiobooks by a Japanese Buddhist monk

it's very useful stuff

but at one point the monk is like, and if things go poorly for you at work, do not let it trouble you, today is not like the old days when you would have been expected to disembowel yourself

which was one of those oh shit! moments but also a really useful thing to keep in mind when I'm stressing about the job

Jun 16 at 5:08amWeb
Show threadSaraJun 16

@ai6yr @nev @elebertus this is the book, btw

good advice!

https://www.powells.com/book/art-of-simple-living-100-daily-practices-from-a-japanese-zen-monk-for-a-lifetime-of-calm-joy-9780143134046?condition=Used%20-%20Good

Show threadAI6YR BenJun 16
@sarae @nev @elebertus Noted, will not disembowel myself if things go bad at work! 🤪
Show threadSaraJun 16

@ai6yr @nev @elebertus you can always get another job! but not if you're disemboweled

it's a healthy perspective to cultivate

Show threadFripi (DECT 3034)Jun 16
@ai6yr
It honestly is scary how many people are würde like that here. I once was on a business trip and my connection was wonky. I did move fasty but didn't panic or run. My colleague who was with me got super scared and I was just like look. They fuck up they can clean it up this is not a me problem. He nearly choked. He just couldn't comprehend that I would not do everything to save the company a few bucks...
@sarae @nev @elebertus
Show threadDenise RuttanJun 16
@sarae Sadly I had an old job that I got fired from that made me feel like I was getting disembowled after making too many mistakes five months into the gig 🙈
Show threadWeekend EditorJun 16

@sarae @ai6yr @nev @elebertus

"...today is not like the old days when you would have been expected to disembowel yourself..."

Of course not; we are not barbarians!

Today, instead of do-it-yourself, we instead have HR departments to disembowel you. They are very skilled with knives.