The Danger of Cultural Blind Spots: What Starbucks Korea Teaches Network Leaders

Group of protesters outside Starbucks holding signs with Korean texts

Can a single marketing campaign destroy years of hard-earned trust overnight? The recent crisis enveloping Starbucks Korea proves that it can. By launching an insensitive "Tank Day" promotion on May 18th—a deeply painful historical date of democratization in Korea—the corporate headquarters completely misread the cultural landscape. The fallout was instantaneous: nationwide boycotts, public condemnation from …