Starbucks has literally taken its café culture to new heights by opening a shop with a view of North Korea.
Nestled in the Aegibong Peace Ecopark observatory near Gimpo, just 31 miles from Seoul and less than a mile from the North Korean border, this isn’t your typical coffee spot.
Is It Worth It?
People are facing difficulties reaching the cafe, but they think a cup of coffee is worth the price.
But the effort is rewarded with breathtaking views of North Korea’s Songaksan mountain and the Jogang River, which flows between the two Koreas.
Built on a hill that saw fierce fighting during the Korean War, the park is billed as a “symbolic place representing peace and harmony.”
The new Starbucks is part of a broader effort to turn South Korean border cities like Gimpo and Paju into tourist destinations.
“I wish I could share this tasty coffee with the people in North Korea,” said Baek Hea-soon, a local resident enjoying the shop’s opening day.