"Han Dong-hoon can, but Lee Jae-myung cannot."
On the first day of the official campaign for the 21st presidential election, starting on the 12th, customers at Starbucks are no longer able to use the names of presidential candidates as nicknames.
On the 12th, a Starbucks Korea representative stated, "We are taking measures to ensure that the names of all candidates during the election period cannot be registered as nicknames. This is to minimize controversy and to maintain political neutrality."
Starbucks Korea offers a "Call My Name" service, where store partners call out customers' registered nicknames when their ordered beverages or food are ready.
Customers can register a nickname in Korean with a maximum of 6 characters, and the nickname is printed on the receipt. It can be changed once a month through the Starbucks application.
In doing so, Starbucks has designated the names of the seven candidates registered for the 6.3 presidential election as prohibited terms.
The names of the final candidates registered with the National Election Commission, including Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party, Gu Ju-wha of the Liberty Unification Party, Hwang Kyo-ahn, an independent candidate, and Song Jin-ho, also an independent candidate (in order of candidate number), were included among the banned terms.
Additionally, all nicknames that include candidate names, such as "I Am Lee Jae-myung" and "The Real Lee Jae-myung," are prohibited. However, there are no restrictions on slightly modified nicknames like "I Jae-myung."
Moreover, the name of former People Power Party representative Han Dong-hoon, who faced defeat in the party's presidential candidate selection process, and former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who encountered issues regarding unification with Kim, could still be used as nicknames.
Thus, Starbucks Korea is limiting the use of inappropriate nicknames, considering both the customers using the stores and the partners calling them.
Starbucks Korea's criteria for inappropriate nicknames include expressions that deviate from social norms, direct insults to others, expressions difficult for store partners to call, and expressions that cause discomfort. The statement "Starbucks Korea does not take any social or political stance" is also included.
Image source: Capture from the Starbucks Korea app, March 2024. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, greets staff at a Starbucks in Daejeon. / News1, September 2024. Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, attend a meeting of party leaders at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. / News1
