"Did you see the plane explosion? I heard some people are going overseas. If a crash happens, send a 'hire an intern' message."
Gong Cha Korea issued an apology regarding the remarks made by a franchise manager related to the Jeju Air disaster.
On the 30th, Gong Cha Korea issued an apology on its website, stating, "We sincerely apologize for the inappropriate remarks made at our Gong Cha Shinsegae Daegu franchise that caused discomfort and hurt," expressing that it was against Gong Cha Korea's core values and ethics, and acknowledged the responsibility of disappointing its customers.
They continued, "The investigation found that the incident stemmed from the inappropriate personal actions of a franchise manager," and "We are seriously reviewing this matter and taking appropriate action regarding the staff involved. To prevent such incidents, we will bolster our internal management systems and develop improvement measures."
Additionally, they expressed deepest condolences to those who lost their precious lives and their bereaved families due to the tragic accident at Muan International Airport, adding, "We sincerely offer words of comfort to all those who were hurt by this accident."
The Gong Cha branch owner at Shinsegae Daegu Department Store published a handwritten apology, stating, "We sincerely apologize for causing concern to many people due to our staff's inappropriate behavior," and added, "This entire situation arose from my negligence as the branch owner, and I will deeply reflect and strive to thoroughly improve store operations and staff training to prevent recurrence."
Additionally, they said, "We sincerely seek forgiveness from all those who were hurt by this incident and will do our utmost to regain the trust of our customers," adding, "I once again humbly apologize."
Earlier, online, a post claiming to be a KakaoTalk message received by an intern from a franchise cafe owner spread widely.
The person presumed to be the owner reportedly told the intern, "Did you see the plane explosion today? There are some people going overseas during the vacation. If a crash happens, send me a KakaoTalk message saying 'hire an intern' first before dad and mom. Don't be absent."
As the post spread widely, it became known that the controversial store was Gong Cha Shinsegae Daegu franchise, leading to netizens' star rating attacks and protests.