The balance of prepaid funds on Starbucks Korea cards reached 420 billion won ($276 million) by the end of 2025, marking an 8.2 percent increase from the previous year. Despite this substantial amount, Starbucks Korea’s prepaid cards are not regulated under South Korean law governing prepaid electronic payment instruments. Customers face limitations on refunds as they must use at least 60 percent of the remaining balance before requesting a refund.
Starbucks Korea faced criticism for a marketing event on May 18 that was perceived as disrespectful to the pro-democracy movement. The event, which included phrases like “Tank Day” and “Tak on the desk!”, was quickly discontinued following backlash. The phrases used were seen as evoking sensitive historical events related to military crackdowns and torture deaths in South Korea.
In response to the controversy, the government considered revoking an award granted to Starbucks Korea for its contributions to local agriculture and small businesses. However, after review, it was determined that the recent issue did not directly impact the reasons for the award. While some argue that the award should still be revoked due to social backlash, the government decided to maintain Starbucks Korea’s commendation.
