New content: June 18, 2026
Mandatory History training for 2,000 South Korean based Starbucks Stores
Following a national protest over a marketing campaign, Starbucks Korea will temporarily close over 2,000 locations on June 22nd to provide mandatory historical and social-sensitivity training.
This is caused by an advertisement campaign launched by the company which proved to be not very history-sensitive. The campaign was launched on May 18, the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju uprising. The then President Chun Doo Hwan’s military regime put a violent end to pro-democracy protests in Gwangju that day. Victim’s organisations claim that hundreds of people were killed during the ten days of unrest when paratroopers and tanks were used against civilians.
Starbucks advertised its new ‘Tank’ tumbler series, sparking the uproar. The tagline ‘thwack on the desk’ and the campaign’s ‘Tank Day’ brought memories of the 1987 torture death of student activist Park Jong Chul and the Gwangju massacre.
The campaign was pulled within hours, the CEO was dismissed, and company leaders issued public apologies. Customer boycotts, protests, and government actions followed, causing a significant drop in sales. According to Starbucks Korea, employee training and store closures are meant to stop such mistakes from happening in the future.
Bronnen:
How a Starbucks marketing stunt spiralled into mass boycotts in South Korea – The Guardian
Date posted: April 30, 2026
Red Ginseng: The Small Root With Big Health Benefits
Red ginseng is a medicinal root that has been a part of women’s wellness in many parts of Asia for generations. New research shows that red ginseng may help ease some menopausal changes, including hot flashes and mood swings. Reports mention reducing depression and improving the wellbeing and general health of postmenopausal women.
Researchers have also found that red ginseng may help prevent muscle loss and reduce fat gain after menopause, which could also make it valuable for healthy aging.
What is interesting is that it reflects the belief which has been embedded in many Asian cultures for centuries, namely that prevention matters just as much as treatment. As science continues to study traditional remedies like red ginseng, it suggests that some of the oldest health traditions still have something valuable to offer modern life.
Bronnen:
Red ginseng may curb muscle loss in women: studies – The Korea Herald
Lee, Hye Won et al. 2016. Ginseng for managing menopausal woman’s health A systematic review of double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Medicine.
Date posted: April 21, 2026
HYBE Founder Bang Si-Hyuk Under Investigation for Alleged Investor Fraud
The founder and chair of HYBE entertainment, Bang Si-Hyuk, has come under investigation in connection with an investor fraud scheme. He allegedly told investors back in 2019 that HYBE was not planning to go public, which led them to sell their shares to an investment fund. However, the company decided to go public nonetheless. The police claim that Bang acquired part of the profits from those share sales through a secret agreement. It goes without saying that Bang Si-Hyuk is presumed innocent until deemed otherwise in a court of law.
Source: The Guardian