Starbucks Korea announces its eighth Community Store to bolster youth employment initiatives

Starbucks Korea dedicated Starbucks Jongno R as its eighth Community Store, marking a continued commitment to enhance youth employment, on January 9^th. A portion of proceeds from this store will be donated to Junior Achievement Korea (JA Korea) to create pathways to opportunities for young people. 

Lee Eun-Hyung, CEO of JA Korea, stated, "I am delighted to join Starbucks Korea in this meaningful community store project, a step forward from our eight-year collaboration in youth skill-building program," and " we are committed to making the 8th Community Store a beacon of hope for young people in the local community.”

Ryan Sohn, CEO of Starbucks Korea, said, "This collaboration, which now extends to include vocational high school students and other young community members in need, represents a significant expansion of our youth employment support efforts. We are dedicated to empowering more youth through this new Community Store, helping them to design and grow a bright future.”

The Starbucks skill-building education programs operated with JA Korea will be expanded from teenagers to include community college students and underserved groups in various regions. The program will also include Opportunity Fairs, offering lectures and experiential learning programs including resume photo shooting, personal assessment, barista job counseling, and mock interviews.

Partnering since 2015, Starbucks and JA Korea have jointly developed career education and employment programs, impacting over 20,000 vocational high school students nationwide. This partnership has enabled 470 youth to embark on careers as Starbucks baristas.