Courtesy of Jeon Somi's instagram

Korean entertainers find themselves at the center of a brewing controversy as fans express discontent over their association with Starbucks, citing the coffee giant's perceived stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Despite K-pop idols generally maintaining political neutrality, recent instances of artists featuring Starbucks products in their content have triggered a wave of criticism. 

▲ Courtesy of Jeon Somi's instagramEnhypen's Jake faced backlash during a Weverse live show on January 5th, where fans expressed disapproval in the chat, urging him to refrain from supporting Starbucks. In response to the criticism, Jake apologized, stating, "I made a mistake, I’m very sorry, won’t happen again."

Singer Jeon Somi encountered similar scrutiny in a TikTok makeup video last month, where her use of a Starbucks-logoed tumbler led to backlash. The video has since been removed in the wake of the negative response.

Even Blackpink member Jisoo faced criticism for an Instagram post from last July, wherein she was seen holding a Starbucks tumbler. Commenters called for her to boycott Starbucks in light of the alleged controversy.

The controversy surrounding Starbucks emerged in October when the company took legal action against its workers' union, Starbucks Workers United, following a pro-Palestinian tweet by a union member. While online critics interpreted this as a sign of support for Israel, Starbucks has vehemently denied such claims.

It's essential to note that Starbucks Korea operates independently under the ownership of Shinsegae Group, separate from the U.S.-based Starbucks. The controversy underscores the challenges faced by Korean artists inadvertently caught in the crossfire of geopolitical debates linked to multinational corporations.

Sayart

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com