Starbucks operates 1,980 locations in operation in South Korea. Credit: Sorbis/Shutterstock.

Starbucks Coffee Korea Co has inaugurated a new café in the South Korean city of Gimpo, offering customers the opportunity to enjoy their drinks with a view of a mountain village.

The 30-seater establishment is within Aegibong Peace Ecopark’s observatory tower.

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The ecopark, formerly known as Hill 154, was a site of intense conflict during the Korean War between the two Koreas. Positioned at the mouth of the Hangang River, the area holds significance due to its location near the border, surrounded by a rich and diverse natural environment. 

The café opening is part of the city’s initiative to transform the area into a global tourist hotspot by capitalising on its historical significance. 

Local officials from Gimpo have stated that the opening of Starbucks is a step towards developing their border facilities into a tourist destination. They believe that the presence of such a recognisable capitalist entity serves as a symbol of strong security on the Korean Peninsula. 

To reach the café, patrons must first clear a military checkpoint, the Associated Press has reported. 

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Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo stated that Starbucks, with its international reputation, has the potential to transform the “dark and depressing” image of the border area. 

“This place could now become an important tourist destination for security (and) peace that can be seen as young, bright and warm, as well as garnering global attention,” Kim Byung-soo told reporters. 

In 2021, Starbucks Corporation divested its share in Starbucks Korea to SCK Company and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC.  

Through SCK, which runs Starbucks operations in the country under a licensing agreement, there were 1,980 Starbucks stores as of the third quarter of 2024.