Starbucks has opened a café at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, offering patrons a unique view of North Korea. Located about 20 miles from Seoul, this 30-seat café sits atop an observation tower near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), one of the world’s most fortified borders. On clear days, visitors can see farms and buildings in Kaepung County across the Jo River, and with binoculars, even spot people moving around.
The café’s opening drew crowds, with some enjoying the view from the deck while others stayed indoors sipping coffee. Local resident Baek Hea-soon expressed a wish to share the experience with those in North Korea, while veteran Lim Jong-chul described the café as bringing a sense of peace to a historically tense location. Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo praised the café’s cultural significance and its potential to boost tourism.
Aegibong Peace Ecopark is historically significant, once the site of fierce battles during the Korean War. The café adds a new dimension to tours of the DMZ, providing South Koreans and tourists a glimpse into North Korea without entering the reclusive nation.
The opening coincides with heightened tensions between the two Koreas. While North Korea remains largely isolated, this Starbucks location serves as both a symbolic and practical bridge, allowing visitors to reflect on the complex history and current state of relations.
