Starbucks outlets in South Korea have prohibited customers from using the names of presidential candidates or the impeached former president in their drink orders.
The move comes ahead of the June 3 election, which follows the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after he briefly declared martial law in December.
Starbucks’ “Call My Name” feature allows customers to choose a nickname via the app, which baristas then call out when orders are ready. However, until the election is over, the names of all seven presidential candidates—including opposition frontrunner Lee Jae-myung and conservative rival Kim Moon-soo—are banned from use.
The company said the decision was made to prevent misuse of the feature, which has occurred in past elections. Some customers had previously entered phrases such as “arrest Yoon Suk Yeol” or “Lee Jae-myung is a spy” as their order names.
“We do not take any religious or political stance,” Starbucks said in a statement, adding that it restricts nicknames containing offensive or inappropriate language.
Former president Yoon, who is now facing criminal charges for insurrection, is also banned from being referenced in orders. His declaration of martial law drew support from far-right religious figures and YouTubers, and his supporters stormed a courthouse earlier this year following the court’s approval of his arrest.
South Korea’s political landscape remains deeply polarized, with both leading candidates under legal scrutiny. Naver, the country’s top search engine, has announced efforts to monitor election-related activity online to promote fair and accurate information.
South Korea is home to more than 2,000 Starbucks stores—ranking third globally behind only the U.S. and China.
