‘Don’t be absent’: Manager tells employees to text him before parents during a plane crash

The intern expressed their shock and disappointment, criticising the manager’s lack of empathy and professionalism, South China Morning Post reported.

“Please do not support Gong Cha by spending your money there. Is this really something you should say to a part-time worker? As an adult, don’t you feel ashamed? This is so heartless,” they wrote.

The remarks sparked outrage among Korean netizens. One comment read: “Is this person even human? Making such remarks right after a national tragedy?” Another user stated: “The manager’s brain must be broken. They have clearly given up on being a decent human being.”

In response to the public outcry, Gong Cha Korea issued an apology on January 30. The bubble tea chain was founded in 2006 in Taiwan.

In addition, the shop owner issued a handwritten apology, stating: “This entire situation arose from my negligence as the branch owner, and I will deeply reflect and strive to thoroughly improve store operations and staff training to prevent recurrence. We sincerely seek forgiveness from all those who were hurt by this incident and will do our utmost to regain the trust of our customers.”

(With inputs from South China Morning Post)