Starbucks Offers Glimpse into Life in North Korea with New Café Launch -

For those curious about the daily lives of civilians in North Korea, Starbucks is offering coffee drinkers in South Korea a unique insight into the world’s most secretive nation while they savor their favorite drinks.

Starbucks Coffee Korea Co has opened a new riverside cafe at an observation tower in Gimpo city, South Korea, providing coffee enthusiasts a chance to “observe” the everyday life of a village in Gaepung county, just across the border, according to an announcement from the city government. The observatory, previously referred to as Hill 154, is historically significant as it was a battleground during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.

Visitors take in the view from an observation deck at a Starbucks Coffee Korea Co location, overlooking North Korea’s Gaepung County, at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, on Friday, 29 November 2024. The 30-seat cafe opened that day, allowing patrons in the south a rare view into the world’s most isolated nation while enjoying their preferred coffee.

Gaepung county mainly comprises residences and a few farms, though being a border area, it may also include military installations. The North Korean riverbank is located over a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Starbucks, which means guests might need binoculars or long-range lenses to see activities in the neighboring country.

While North Korea’s military capabilities are sometimes highlighted through missile tests and other staged events, the daily lives of ordinary North Koreans remain largely enigmatic, captivating many with this secretive kingdom. Although Pyongyang is set to reopen its borders to general tourism in December for the first time since the pandemic began, such tours are tightly controlled, with many foreign nationals barred from participation.

The new 30-seat cafe commenced operations on Friday at the observatory tower within the Aegibong Peace Ecopark, providing coffee lovers with a sweeping view of the Jogang river that acts as the boundary between the two nations, according to the invitation. This initiative is part of the city’s efforts to position Aegibong as a major tourist destination, leveraging its historical and strategic significance during the Korean War. In the first ten months of this year, the park attracted around 135,514 visitors, marking a 24% increase compared to the previous year.

Starbucks Korea, primarily owned by E-Mart—a subsidiary of Korea’s retail giant Shinsegae Group—selected this location for its historical significance and beautiful views, as noted by a spokesperson for the Gimpo city government in correspondence with Bloomberg News. Remarkably, Starbucks is the only food and beverage operator in the vicinity.

However, even this peaceful ecological park is not immune to the tensions between the two nations.

Nearly a decade ago, South Korea dismantled a Christmas tower at Aegibong, which North Korea deemed a psychological warfare tactic. Yet, last year, South Korea reestablished a prominent lighting display resembling a Christmas tree at Aegibong.

The cafe opening comes amid rising tensions between the two nations. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been actively seeking to sever ties with the south, dismissing any chances of peaceful unification. Recently, Kim’s government has destroyed segments of roads and rail links connecting the countries and released thousands of balloons filled with waste and cigarette remnants. Additionally, Pyongyang has further irritated South Korea and its allies by deploying troops to Russia to assist Moscow in its conflict with Ukraine.

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