This photo taken on March 3, 2024, shows a Starbucks outlet in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 12 (Korea Bizwire) — Starbucks Korea has restricted customers from using the names of major presidential candidates as nicknames at its stores nationwide, citing the need to prevent political controversy and maintain neutrality during the sensitive election period.
As of May 12, 2025, names such as Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party), Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), and Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party), among others, cannot be registered as nicknames through the Starbucks mobile application. The move affects a total of seven prominent candidates ahead of the 2025 presidential election.
The restriction applies to the company’s “Call My Name” service, a brand initiative that allows customers to be called by personalized nicknames when collecting their orders.
While the feature is aimed at enhancing customer engagement and personalizing the brand experience, Starbucks has taken steps to limit potentially provocative or politically charged names during the election season.
A company spokesperson explained that the filter is part of broader content moderation measures aimed at blocking religious, political, or offensive language—including profanity or suggestive phrases—through real-time monitoring.
“To avoid misunderstandings and complaints that could arise between customers and staff, especially in politically sensitive times, we have decided to temporarily block the use of candidate names,” the spokesperson said. “These keywords will remain restricted until the end of the election.”
The move reflects a growing sensitivity among consumer-facing brands in South Korea, where political affiliations can quickly become flashpoints in public spaces.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
