Unique Experience, Starbucks In South Korea Has A View Of North Korea's Village

JAKARTA - Recently, Starbucks opened its newest branch in South Korea which offers its customers a very unique experience. They can enjoy coffee while looking at the view of mountain villages in North Korea.

Reported by VOI from the Independent website on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Starbucks outlet located at Aegibong Peace Eco Park, Gimpo, South Korea was inaugurated on Friday, November 28, 2024.

This outlet is less than 1.5 kilometers from North Korea. Before reaching the observatory, visitors had to pass through military checkpoints to ensure territorial security.

The Starbucks outlet is located in a strategic location that allows visitors to enjoy views of Mount Songaksan in North Korea.

The city government of Gimpo explained that the opening of Starbucks was part of their efforts to develop facilities along the border into tourist destinations.

They also mentioned that well-known brands such as Starbuck are called symbols of'strong security on the Korean Peninsula'. The observatory in Aegibong Peace Ecopark is one of the main attractions in this park, which is built on hills.

This used to be the site of fierce fighting during the Korean War. Now, the park is referred to as "a symbolic location that represents peace and harmony."

Visitors who come to Starbucks can not only enjoy a cup of coffee, but can also see the Jogang River located between the observatory and the border town of Kaepung in North Korea.

"I look forward to sharing this delicious coffee with people in North Korea," said Baek Hea-soon, a 48-year-old Gimpo resident who was revealed at Starbucks' opening ceremony.

The city of Gimpo and other border cities in South Korea such as Paju continue to strive to develop their border areas as tourist assets, although tensions between South Korea and North Korea are increasing.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has tried to increase pressure on South Korea and threatened to attack with nuclear weapons if provoked.

North Korea is also involved in psychological warfare and electronic warfare against South Korea, such as releasing balloons filled with garbage in the South and disrupting GPS signals around the border area.

The city of Kaepung in North Korea is believed to be one of the locations used to launch thousands of balloons over the past few months.