Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun, left, poses with Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik, center, and President of Korea National Council on Social Welfare Kim Soung-yee at Starbucks Korea's sixth community store in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Starbucks Korea



By Kim Jae-heun



Starbucks Korea has refurbished its Dongnimmun Station branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul, as its sixth community store and revealed plans to support descendants of national merit, Korea's largest coffee chain said Friday.



The community store is a profit-sharing shop that Starbucks Korea has been introducing since 2014 as part of its social contribution efforts to support non-governmental organizations. The coffee franchise donates 300 won (22 cents) per product sold at its community stores.



As the sixth community store aims to support descendants of national merit, the renovated store was selected near Dongnimmun Station, where the country's independence gate is located.



"The Starbucks Community Store contributes positively to the community and demonstrates our mission to create infinite possibilities for human relationships," Michael Conway, group president of International and Channel Development at Starbucks International, said.



"We are proud that these community store models enable Starbucks partners around the world to create an environment that can contribute to the local communities and get closer to them."



Prior to the opening of Starbucks's Dongnimmun Station renovated branch, the company signed a three-way business agreement with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare.



Under the agreement, Starbucks Korea will provide a total of 300 million won in scholarships to young descendants of independence fighters over the next three years. It will also donate profits created at sixth community stores to support families of national merit.



Starbucks Korea has already delivered a total of 766 million won in scholarships to 383 descendants since 2015. The coffee franchise also plans to recruit them as baristas at Starbucks stores in collaboration with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.



"The support from Starbucks Korea and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare will be a great help for the descendants of national heroes, who have devoted themselves to protecting the country. The government will also make more efforts to honor and support them," Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik said.

