South Korea police search Starbucks Korea HQ over investigation, media report says

E-Mart

05/08/2026 02:24

SEOUL, Aug 5 (Reuters) - South Korean police searched the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into allegations that officials at the parent company insulted victims of the 1980 pro-democracy protests through a marketing campaign, broadcaster KBS reported on Wednesday. 
Police are trying to obtain documents and evidence that were not included in material submitted by Starbucks Korea's parent Shinsegae Group, the report by state-funded local television network KBS said, without citing sources.
Starbucks Korea said in May the company suffered a "very significant" drop in sales after a marketing campaign that recalled a brutal 1980 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters triggered public criticism. 
Shinsegae operates Starbucks Korea through SCK Company, which is 67.5% owned by E-Mart and 32.5% by Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, according to a company filing.
Starbucks Korea and Shinsegae both said they saw the search as part of an ongoing investigation into the company, a spokesperson said in a text message sent to Reuters.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency did not respond to a request for comment.

 (Reporting by Heejin Kim
Editing by Ed Davvies)
 ((Heejin.Kim@thomsonreuters.com))