Estimated card spending at Starbucks reached 121.19 billion won in May, down about 13.1 billion won from 134.32 billion won in April, according to Mobile Index on Thursday.
The decline deepened in the latter half of the month. Weekly spending slipped from 32.16 billion won during May 11 to 17 to 23.69 billion won during May 18 to 24, when the "Tank Day" controversy erupted, before falling again to 21.46 billion won during May 25-31, the second consecutive weekly drop.
The figures cover only estimated domestic card payments and exclude corporate bank transfers, cash, gift certificates, simple payments and in-app transactions, the company said.
Demand still held firmer on other channels.
As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, Starbucks vouchers ranked first and second in the cafe category on the KakaoTalk Gift platform, led by a 50,000-won e-card voucher.
Starbucks Korea triggered the backlash on May 18, the anniversary of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising, by using the term "Tank Day" to promote a tumbler discount event. As criticism spread online, Shinsegae Group dismissed Starbucks Korea's chief executive and issued a public apology.
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