Korean bubble tea chain manager sparks outrage for telling staff to call boss before family in emergency
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‘If a crash happens, send me a message first,’ the manager allegedly said. A popular Korean bubble tea brand sparked backlash after one of their franchise managers told employees to inform their boss before their families in case they were in a plane crash.
The directive was given to employees who worked at the bubble tea store on 29 December, the same day South Korea saw the worst domestic aviation disaster in the country’s history. A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crash landed after failing to deploy its landing gear, then skidded off the runway at Muan airport and rammed into a concrete embankment.
The plane burst into flames, killing all but two of its 181 passengers and crew. The survivors, crew members seated at the rear, suffered injuries but were rescued. A manager from one of Gong Cha Korea’s franchises at the Shinsegae Department Store in Daegu allegedly told its part-time workers that they must inform him before contacting family in the event they found themselves in a plane crash.
“Did you see the plane explosion today? There are some people going overseas during the holiday. If a crash happens, send me a message saying ‘hire an intern’ first before contacting mum and dad. Do not be absent,” the manager allegedly said, according to a message posted on social media by someone who claimed to be an intern at the Gong Cha franchise location.
