That cover-up helped ignite the protests that forced South Korea’s democratization. Starbucks is facing backlash in South Korea after a campaign was linked to the 1980 Gwangju crackdown, triggering protests and an apology. Sponsored · First Phosphate Corp.Shinsegae Inc. (KRX: 004170), which controls Starbucks Korea through its retail arm, fired then-CEO Son Jung-hyun within days. Police first sought a warrant on June 8, but prosecutors rejected it, saying Starbucks Korea was already cooperating. E-Mart Inc. (KRX: 139480) controls 67.5% of Starbucks Korea, one of the coffee chain’s largest markets outside the United States and China.