A controversy has belatedly erupted over an offer by Starbucks Korea to provide free coffee for soldiers on special leave.
The event, which began last October, provides a free cup of brewed coffee for soldiers who visit the stores during a special vacation period.
President Park Geun-hye designated two days of leave last year for 560,000 soldiers on the occasion of Chuseok, one of Korea’s main holidays held in the fall.
The two days can be taken any time over a period of one year, meaning the offer expires this September.
At the time of the announcement, the Ministry of Defense and 64 corporations including Starbucks collaborated on a coupon book for soldiers, as a way to reward them for their service. Other establishments offering benefits included movie theaters, amusement parks, restaurants and apparel brands. Soldiers can receive benefits by showing their vacation forms and the coupon.
However, a controversy erupted based on a post which outlined the “benefits of being a soldier.”
Some women took issue with the event, saying it is unfair that only men are provided such perks.
“Women are the main customers of Starbucks. Why does it only offer benefits for people in the military, where the majority is male?” a woman wrote on an online female-focused community.
Some have even gone as far as calling for a boycott of Starbucks.
Such comments have brought a strong backlash from men, with the issue coming down to gender conflict.
“Do you begrudge a single cup of coffee to soldiers who give up two years for the country?” a male blogger said.
Another Internet user said, “Yes, women are the main customers of Starbucks, but it’s men who pay for the coffee.”
But many others, both men and women, say they don’t see any problem with the event.
“I don’t understand why the women are dissatisfied. It’s just a company service to soldiers. It doesn’t take money from the women’s own pockets,” a blogger said.
“Soldiers’ salaries are so small that they can’t afford coffee at Starbucks. Instead of whining over the free coffee event, you’d should demand that the government raise their salary,” another wrote.
A Starbucks PR official confirmed that the company received around 200 emails from customers on the matter, including complaints.
“We did not have any intention of discriminating by gender,” said the official. “We also received positive feedback on the event and we regret to see that it created a controversy of this sort.”
Female soldiers can also receive the benefits, he added.