Any thoughts on the backlash K-pop stars are receiving for drinking Starbucks coffee due to Starbucks' alleged pro-Israel stance?
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Megan Chan, 16, Island School
Megan Chan attends Island School.Photo: Handout
Traveling is fun, but going through immigration can be a hassle. Advances in technology will bring many changes to travel, as seen in Singapore's progress towards a digitally managed immigration system.
Countries are using technology to influence and support travel in a variety of ways. For example, Brazil does not use her QR codes for immigration, but has added her QR codes at various locations and landmarks so that visitors can scan her QR codes and learn about the country's culture and I try to learn more about history. Additionally, her QR code was used in many locations during the pandemic to track the virus and ensure everyone's safety.
While there are many benefits to using technology in this area, including convenience and increased travel costs, there are also certain factors and risks to consider.
First, is the data collected securely? How will countries use this data? And will everyone have access to it? How can we make technology more inclusive for people who don't have smartphones or don't know how to use their QR codes?
New ways to travel are exciting, but QR codes must be used at immigration to ensure people's safety and privacy. Failure to do so may lead to privacy violations and other concerns that may lead to more problems in the future.
Read about this issue in last week's issue of The Lens.
observe and read
K-pop singer Heo Yoon-jin of Le Sserafim has been criticized for drinking Starbucks coffee.Photo: Handout/Source Music
K-pop singer Heo Yoon-jin of the girl group Le Sserafim was criticized on social media for drinking Starbucks coffee.
Fans claim she should “educate” herself and boycott the American chain because of its alleged pro-Israel nature during the Israel-Gaza war.
After a photo of her sipping coffee was shared online, fans flooded Heo's Instagram page with critical comments, accusing her of “ignoring the genocide” in Gaza.
“Please educate yourself. This is unfortunate,” said one pro-Palestinian supporter.
Some said the episode could haunt her for the rest of her career, urging Xu to apologize and take responsibility for supporting the brand.
Xu's fans called on others to stop streaming Le Sserafim and its album. “She is a hypocrite. I can't believe she fought for her before,” one user wrote.
Some fans defended Xu, saying it was unfair to target her over coffee. “She can drink whatever she wants. It shouldn't be a problem. You can boycott whatever you want and respect other people's opinions.” the commenter said.
Another person wrote, “Starbucks in South Korea doesn't even support Israel.” Starbucks Korea is operated by a local conglomerate called Shinsegae Group.
Huh is the latest Korean celebrity to face the wrath of fans for endorsing products that are suspected of being pro-Israel. Boy band Enhypen's Jake was criticized for drinking a Starbucks during a live broadcast in January, and was forced to apologize. Last year, K-pop solo artist Jeon Somi was criticized for displaying a cup with the Starbucks logo in a TikTok video.
In response to the scandal, Starbucks announced this month that its profits are not used to fund any government or military.
staff writer
research and discuss
Do you think the backlash against Xu and other stars was fair? Should celebrities be held accountable for their interactions with brands that are deemed problematic?
Is boycotting a brand an effective method of protest? Why or why not?
