Starbucks opens Café with a view of North Korea

Starbucks opens Café with a view of North Korea

Coffee lovers who want to gain insights into life in the most secluded country in the world should prepare for a trip: Starbucks has created the perfect place for them.

coffee enjoyment with a view of North Korea

The latest branch of the American coffee chain is located on a lookout tower on the border with North Korea. Here the guests can enjoy their coffee and at the same time look at the hermetically sealed kingdom that extends beyond the yo river.

location and atmosphere

The 30-sitz café is located in Aegibong Peace Ecopark in the city of Gimpo, about 32 kilometers northwest of the capital Seoul. Nearby is the Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ), one of the most guarded limits of the world.

On the first day of business, Friday, November 29, customers crowded on the observation deck of the café. Those who wanted to escape the cold searched for protection inside while enjoying their coffee.

views and insights

On clear days, guests can recognize some farms and lower buildings in the Kaepung district, directly beyond the border. With a decent couple binoculars or a camera with an ultra zoom function, visitors could even watch people go for a walk.

conversations about peace

"I wish I could share this delicious coffee with the people in North Korea directly in front of us," said the local resident Baek Hea-Soon, 48 years old, to Reuters.

Another visitor, Lim Jong-Chul, 80 years old and veteran of the Vietnam War, expressed: "The feeling of security seemed rigid and tense, but now, with this café here, it feels more peaceful and calming."

historical importance of the location

North and South Korea are still in war, since a peace treaty for termination of the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 was never signed. The fight was ended by an armistice. The Mayor of Gimpo, Kim Byung-Soo, described the location as "unique" because he represents the "charm of Korean culture".

The local authorities use the historical importance of the location to promote tourism. The Ecopark in which the tower is originally the scene was violent fights during the war and contains several viewing platforms along the border.

A look at North Korea without putting your foot there

The Starbucks branch is one of the few options for South Koreans and international tourists to take a look at North Korea, even if it is only from a distance. It represents an alternative to the popular tours through the DMZ, which, according to the Korea Tourism Organization, attract numerous tourists every year.

outlook on the future of international tours

According to two tour companies with connections to the isolated country, North Korea plans to gradually open international tourism by the end of this year, almost five years after the borders were completely closed due to the Covid 19 pandemy.

Current tensions between North and South Korea

The opening of the café takes place in a time of tensions between the two sides. In January, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that his country would no longer strive for reconciliation and reunification with South Korea. In October, Kim even threatened to