Starbucks Korea is closing over 2,000 stores for mandatory history and social sensitivity training after a marketing campaign sparked outrage. The "Tank Day" promotion, coinciding with the Gwangju massacre anniversary, led to boycotts and leadership changes. The half-day shutdown on June 22 is expected to cost 2.1 billion won in lost sales.

Starbucks stores across South Korea will shutter for half a day next week for staff to attend a history lesson following a promotional campaign gone awry, the coffee giant said…

The coffee giant will close all stores for half a day so employees can ‘receive education in historical awareness and social sensitivity’.

Starbucks Korea will temporarily close stores for history training after backlash over its Tank Day campaign linked to the Gwangju Uprising.