Starbucks Korea Closes Stores for History Lessons
Starbucks Korea Closes Stores for History Lessons
星巴克韓國分店為進行歷史教育而關店
Introduction
Starbucks Korea will close all stores early on June 22. All workers must learn about Korean history and social rules.
星巴克韓國分店將於6月22日提早關店。所有員工必須學習韓國歷史與社會規範。
Main Body
The company made a mistake in an ad. They used the words 'Tank Day' on May 18. This date is sad for Korea because the army killed many people in 1980. The company also used a bad phrase about a student's death. They said an AI tool chose the words.
公司在廣告中犯了錯誤。他們在5月18日使用了「坦克之日」這個詞彙。這個日期對韓國來說非常悲傷，因為軍隊在1980年殺害了許多人。公司還使用了關於學生死亡的不恰當措辭。他們聲稱是AI工具選擇了這些文字。
Many people are angry. The company lost money and the boss of Starbucks Korea lost his job. The company will now use a list to check if ads are offensive. Lawyers will also check the ads.
許多人感到憤怒。公司損失了金錢，且星巴克韓國的執行長失去了工作。公司現在將使用一份清單來檢查廣告是否具有冒犯性。律師也將審核這些廣告。
Workers will learn from university teachers. On June 22, stores will close at 3:00 PM. All staff will watch videos about history. This is the first time all stores closed together since 1999.
員工將由大學教授指導。6月22日，店鋪將於下午3:00關店。所有員工將觀看關於歷史的影片。這是自1999年以來，首次所有分店共同關店。
Conclusion
The company wants to change its rules. They want to stop these mistakes in the future.
公司希望修改其規範，以防止未來再次發生此類錯誤。
Vocabulary Learning
🛑 Talking about the Past
When we talk about things that already happened, we often add -ed to the action word.
Look at these examples from the text:
- kill killed
- losed (Incorrect!) lost (Special word)
- used $
💡 The "Will" Shortcut
If you want to talk about the future, just put will before the action. It is very simple!
- The stores will close.
- Staff will watch videos.
🔍 Useful Word Pairs
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Offensive | Bad / Rude |
| Mistake | Wrong action |
| Future | Time after now |
Vocabulary Learning
Shinsegae Group Closes Starbucks Korea Stores for Mandatory History and Sensitivity Training
新世界集團關閉星巴克韓國所有門市，進行強制性歷史與社會敏感度培訓
Introduction
Starbucks Korea will close all its stores early across the country on June 22. This decision was made to provide mandatory training for employees regarding historical awareness and social sensitivity.
星巴克韓國將於 6 月 22 日提前關閉全國所有門市。此決定旨在為員工提供關於歷史意識與社會敏感度的強制性培訓。
Main Body
The decision follows a controversial marketing campaign for "SS Tank" tumblers that named May 18 as "Tank Day." This date is the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy movement where the military used tanks and troops, causing many civilian deaths. Furthermore, the public was angered by the slogan "Thwack it on the table!", which seemed to mock the 1987 torture-death of activist Park Jong-chol. Shinsegae Group explained that an artificial intelligence tool was used to choose this slogan.
此決定源於先前針對「SS Tank」隨行杯的行銷活動引起爭議，將 5 月 18 日命名為「坦克日」。該日期為 1980 年光州起義的週年紀念日，當時軍隊使用坦克與士兵鎮壓，導致許多平民死亡。此外，口號「在桌上拍下去！」（Thwack it on the table!）亦引起公眾憤怒，因其被認為是在嘲諷 1987 年被酷刑致死的運動人士朴鍾哲。新世界集團解釋，該口號是使用人工智慧工具選出的。
In response, Shinsegae Group took several serious actions. The company fired the CEO of Starbucks Korea, and Chairman Chung Yong-jin issued a formal apology. Additionally, President Lee Jae Myung's administration described the company's behavior as "inhumane and disgraceful." Consequently, the company saw a large drop in sales and faced legal complaints from the victims' families. To prevent this from happening again, Shinsegae will introduce a social-sensitivity checklist and require legal reviews for all future marketing materials.
對此，新世界集團採取了多項嚴厲措施。公司解雇了星巴克韓國的執行長，會長鄭勇進也發表了正式道歉。此外，李在明總統政府將公司的行為描述為「不人道且可恥」。因此，公司銷售額大幅下降，並面臨受害者家屬的法律訴訟。為防止再次發生此類事件，新世界將引入社會敏感度檢查清單，並要求未來所有行銷素材必須經過法律審核。
The training program is organized in stages. On June 17, executives and headquarters staff will attend lectures by professors from Sungkyunkwan University. Then, on June 22, almost all store employees will close their shops at 3:00 PM to watch recordings of these lessons. Finally, Chairman Chung and other CEOs will have their own training on June 24. This is the first time the brand has closed all its stores at once since entering the Korean market in 1999.
培訓計畫分階段進行。6 月 17 日，高層與總部員工將參加成均館大學教授的講座。接著在 6 月 22 日，幾乎所有門市員工將於下午 3 點關店，觀看這些講座的錄影。最後，鄭會長與其他執行長將於 6 月 24 日接受專屬培訓。這是該品牌自 1999 年進入韓國市場以來，首次一次性關閉所有門市。
Conclusion
The company has moved from simply managing the crisis to completely changing its corporate rules to ensure such a controversy does not happen again.
公司已從單純的危機處理，轉變為全面修改公司規範，以確保此類爭議不再發生。
Vocabulary Learning
The "Cause & Effect" Power-Up
At the A2 level, you likely use the word "so" for everything. To reach B2, you need to express why things happen using a variety of "connecting words." This article is a goldmine for this transition.
⚡ Leveling Up Your Connectors
Look at how the story moves from a mistake to a consequence. Instead of saying "They made a mistake, so they closed stores," the text uses these sophisticated bridges:
- "Consequently..." (B2 Upgrade for 'So')
- Example: "...the company saw a large drop in sales... Consequently, the company saw a large drop in sales."
- "In response..." (Used when someone does something because of a specific event)
- Example: "In response, Shinsegae Group took several serious actions."
- "To prevent this from happening again..." (Showing a goal or purpose)
- Example: "To prevent this from happening again, Shinsegae will introduce a checklist."
🧠 The "B2 Logic" Shift
A2 Style: Simple sentences.
"The AI chose the slogan. People were angry."
B2 Style: Complex links.
"The public was angered by the slogan... which seemed to mock the torture-death of an activist."
The Secret: Notice the word "which." In B2 English, we use "which" to add extra information to a noun without starting a new sentence. This makes your speech flow like a native speaker rather than a textbook.
🛠️ Quick Vocabulary Pivot
Stop using 'bad' or 'wrong'. Use these Precision Words from the text to sound more professional:
| Instead of... | Use this B2 Word | Context from Text |
|---|---|---|
| Bad/Wrong | Controversial | A controversial marketing campaign. |
| Very Bad | Inhumane | Behavior described as inhumane. |
| Forced | Mandatory | Mandatory training for employees. |
Vocabulary Learning
Shinsegae Group Implements Nationwide Operational Suspension for Mandatory Historical Sensitivity Training Following Starbucks Korea Marketing Controversy
新世界集團因星巴克韓國行銷爭議，全國性暫停營業以進行強制性歷史敏感度培訓
Introduction
Starbucks Korea will execute a simultaneous early closure of its nationwide outlets on June 22 to facilitate mandatory employee education regarding historical awareness and social sensitivity.
星巴克韓國將於6月22日全國門市同時提早關門，以便對員工進行關於歷史意識與社會敏感度的強制性教育。
Main Body
The operational suspension follows a promotional campaign for 'SS Tank' tumblers that designated May 18 as 'Tank Day.' This date coincides with the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, a pro-democracy movement suppressed by the military regime of Chun Doo-hwan through the deployment of tanks and troops, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Further public indignation was precipitated by the slogan 'Thwack it on the table!', which was perceived as a reference to a discredited 1987 police account concerning the torture-death of activist Park Jong-chol. Shinsegae Group attributed the selection of this slogan to the utilization of an artificial intelligence tool.
此次暫停營業源於先前「SS Tank」隨行杯的推廣活動將5月18日定為「坦克日」。該日期適逢1980年光州起義週年，當時全斗煥軍政府派遣坦克與軍隊鎮壓民主運動，造成大量平民傷亡。隨後，口號「搥在桌上！」（Thwack it on the table!）更引發公眾憤慨，因為被認為是指涉1987年警方關於運動人士朴鍾哲被拷打致死的虛假說法。新世界集團將選擇此口號歸因於使用了人工智慧工具。
Institutional responses to the incident have been extensive. Shinsegae Group, which maintains a 67.5% stake in the operation, terminated the Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Korea and received a formal apology from Chairman Chung Yong-jin. The administration of President Lee Jae Myung characterized the conduct as 'inhumane and disgraceful.' Consequently, the company reported a substantial decline in sales and faced legal complaints from victims' relatives. To mitigate future risks, Shinsegae intends to implement a social-sensitivity checklist covering political, military, and historical markers, while overhauling marketing approval protocols to include legal reviews.
針對此事件的制度性反應十分強烈。持有67.5%股份的新世界集團解僱了星巴克韓國的執行長，正永進會長也正式道歉。李在明總統的政府形容此行為「不人道且可恥」。因此，公司銷售額大幅下降，並面臨受害者親屬的法律訴訟。為了降低未來風險，新世界打算實施一套涵蓋政治、軍事與歷史標記的社會敏感度檢查清單，同時全面改革行銷審核流程以納入法律審查。
The remedial program involves a tiered educational structure. On June 17, headquarters staff and executives will attend lectures by professors from Sungkyunkwan University focusing on contemporary Korean history and sociology. On June 22, all store employees—excluding select airport locations—will close at 15:00 local time to view recordings of these sessions. Chairman Chung Yong-jin and affiliate CEOs are scheduled for separate training on June 24. This represents the first coordinated nationwide early closure since the brand's 1999 entry into the South Korean market.
補救計劃採分級教育結構。6月17日，總部員工與高層將參加由成均館大學教授主講的韓國現代史與社會學講座。6月22日，除部分機場門市外，所有店員將於當地時間15:00關門，觀看這些講座的錄影。正永進會長與關聯公司執行長則定於6月24日接受獨立培訓。這是該品牌自1999年進入韓國市場以來，首次協調全國性提早關門。
Conclusion
The company has transitioned from crisis management to a systemic overhaul of its corporate sensitivity protocols to prevent a recurrence of the controversy.
公司已從危機管理轉向對企業敏感度流程進行系統性改革，以防止爭議再次發生。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of 'Corporate Sterilization'
To move from B2 (competent) to C2 (mastery), a student must stop seeing words as simple labels and start seeing them as strategic instruments of distance. The provided text is a masterclass in Institutional Euphemism—the art of using high-register, Latinate vocabulary to neutralize emotionally charged or violent events.
◈ The Phenomenon: Nominalization as a Shield
C2 mastery involves recognizing how writers use nominalization (turning verbs/adjectives into nouns) to remove agency and emotional urgency.
Compare these two perspectives:
- B2/Emotional: "The company made a huge mistake by ignoring history, so they are forcing staff to learn about it."
- C2/Institutional: "The operational suspension... [is] to facilitate mandatory employee education regarding historical awareness."
By transforming "making a mistake" into "operational suspension" and "forcing staff to learn" into "facilitating mandatory education," the text shifts from a narrative of failure to a narrative of process.
◈ Linguistic Precision: The 'Cold' Lexicon
Note the specific choices that bridge the gap to C2 proficiency:
- "Precipitated" (vs. caused): Suggests a chemical reaction or a sudden fall; it implies a catalyst rather than a simple cause, adding a layer of sophisticated causality.
- "Mitigate future risks" (vs. stop this from happening again): This is the language of risk management. C2 learners must adopt the hedging typical of corporate and legal English.
- "Systemic overhaul" (vs. big change): "Systemic" implies that the flaw was not an isolated incident but built into the very architecture of the organization.
◈ Syntactic Density
Observe the sentence: "Further public indignation was precipitated by the slogan... which was perceived as a reference to a discredited 1987 police account..."
This structure uses a passive construction coupled with a relative clause. It avoids saying "People were angry because the slogan reminded them of a lie." Instead, it creates a chain of conceptual links: .
C2 Insight: Mastery is not about using the 'biggest' word; it is about using the word that precisely encodes the desired level of formality and emotional detachment. To write at a C2 level, you must learn to describe chaos using the language of order.