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 threadIris

@ai6yr @sarae @nev @elebertus

Well, until the emperor loses Tianming anyway: at that point, well, anything goes, more or less

Jun 16 at 5:20amWeb