India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
Alphabet’s Massive AI Spending Surge Signals Confidence in Google’s Growth Engine 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Nvidia, ByteDance, and the U.S.-China AI Chip Standoff Over H200 Exports 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Starbucks’ name in South Korea has been changed, and it was because a new owner has taken over the business. It was revealed that after Emart’s acquisition of the coffee chain has been finalized, Starbucks’ Seattle HQ made a request for a change of name for the stores in the country.
It was on Dec. 28 when Starbucks asked the new owner of its Korean unit for a name change. In response, the coffee chain firm has been officially renamed SCK Company. As per Korea Joongang Daily, the move to change the name comes after Starbucks Coffee International sold all of its shares in SB Korea.
But regardless of the different name of the company running Starbucks in the region, it will continue to operate without any changes on how it is being run. The menu and everything else will also remain the same, so the brand’s fans can continue to enjoy their favorite SB beverages and pastries.
Also, the new SCK Company will keep handing over the same royalties it has been paying to Starbucks Coffee International since the beginning. The royalty will remain at a five percent rate and all of the stores in S. Korea will also keep the Starbucks name and logo. Plus, the coffee beans supply will still be coming from Starbucks Coffee International.
In July, Starbucks Coffee Company announced through a blog post that it has agreed to sell its 50% ownership share of Starbucks Coffee Korea Co., Ltd. The coffee chain said Shinsegae group’s E-Mart Inc. will purchase an additional 17.5% interest in the local Starbucks and this increased E-Mart’s ownership to 67.5%.
The remaining 32.5% share was sold to an affiliate of the GIC Private Limited, the government of Singapore’s wealth fund. With the sales, Starbucks Korea can no longer use “Starbucks” as its company name since Starbucks Coffee International has already dissolved all of its shares.
Finally, Pulse News reported that E-mart’s management control on Starbucks Korea will make it the owner of the country’s No. 1 coffee brand franchise. It was stated that the world-renowned coffee label remained unrivaled and this ranking is expected to continue even with the new owner.
