A Starbucks where visitors can sip coffee while looking into North Korea has become a popular attraction, drawing more than 123,000 customers in seven months, Starbucks Korea said on July 7.
The store, which opened on November 29 inside Aegibong Peace Ecological Park in Gimpo, sits just 0.87 miles from North Korea’s Gaepung County.
From there, visitors can see where the Han and Imjin rivers converge and take in a clear view of the Gaepung area beyond the dividing line.
Since opening, the café has earned the nickname “North Korea-view Starbucks” among tourists and has been featured by international outlets including CNN, AP, and Reuters.
Visitors need to book in advance, clear a security checkpoint, and ride a shuttle bus to access the park, which lies beyond South Korea’s civilian control line.
The store has helped boost local tourism significantly. Between January and April, nearly 129,000 people visited the park, more than doubling last year’s monthly averages.
Foreign visitors have also increased sharply, averaging about 3,300 per month this year compared to 1,300 last year.
The unique experience continues to attract global travelers. Last month, a Swiss tourist remarked, “It’s my first time in Korea, and I came here because you can see North Korea from here. I even spotted North Korean farmers through a telescope. It was fascinating to see it so close.”
Families with young children are also a common sight at the park and café, with weekend traffic reaching about 1,000 customers per day — more than twice the weekday average.
According to Starbucks Korea, families make up such a significant portion of customers that food sales at the location are roughly 30% higher than at typical stores.
Weekdays draw a more diverse crowd, including foreign tour groups, military personnel, and school trips.
The café’s hours are shorter than usual, operating from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in line with park entry restrictions.
