Perched atop an observatory, the branch is so near the village that you can count the number of buildings and houses.
If you’re planning to visit South Korea, then you may want to add this interesting spot to your to-do list. A newly-opened Starbucks branch in Gimpo affords guests with stunning mountain vistas. But it’s not your usual picturesque view—it is of a quiet North Korean mountain village.
At the recently opened store at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark, the glass walls frame panoramic views of Kaepung-gun and Songaksan in the North Korean city of Kaesong. It’s quite interesting how such a ubiquitous global brand is able to give visitors a glimpse into what life must be like in one of the world’s most isolated nations.
In a statement quoted by The Associated Press, the local government of Gimpo said hosting Starbucks was part of efforts to develop its border facilities as a tourist destination and said the shop symbolizes “robust security on the Korean Peninsula through the presence of this iconic capitalist brand.”
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The 40-seater branch is located within the Jogang Observatory, a vantage point that lies just 1.4 kilometers from the Hermit Kingdom, with the Jo River cleaving the two Koreas apart. The Straits Times reports that the village is so near the number of buildings can be counted. A Gimpo official even joked that “you can almost make eye contact with the villagers.” For an even closer look, you can step out on the observatory terrace outside the cafe where you can find telescopes.
And just like any other Starbucks branch, this one also has its own exclusive merchandise and even special beverages that have been prepared in collaboration between the city and the coffee company.
While the new Starbucks location certainly piques interest, it also stirs bittersweet feelings, especially among Koreans.
Baek Hye-soo, a Gimpo resident in her 40s, was the very first customer on opening day last Friday, Nov. 29. She described the experience to The Korea Herald: “I feel like I could swim to the other side of the river between these two lands. This isn’t just another Starbucks launch. It’s infused with a sense of historical weight.”
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“It hits differently that my little daughter can see North Korea from such a familiar and comfortable place like Starbucks,” a mother, surnamed Kim, said.
In the same article, a member of the Vietnam War veterans group in Gimpo, lamented the reality of a divided peninsula, torn by a river “we cannot swim across.”
During the Starbucks store’s opening ceremony Gimpo Mayor Kim Byung-soo expressed his hope that with Starbucks’ powerful brand, it could help position the observatory as a global destination that symbolizes national security and peace. “We hope to transform this place into a point of reflection where Koreans can physically witness the northern side and envision a peaceful future,” he said.
But you can’t just waltz in this particular Starbucks as you would in its thousands of other branches. To access the park, visitors must fill out an entry form and undergo an identity check by the Korean Marine Corps, as the mountain park is situated within a 10-kilometer zone between the Civilian Control Line and the Military Demarcation Line.
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Admission to the park costs 3,000 won ($2.15) for adults, while children under 12 pay 1,000 won. Those who make online reservations in advance can bypass the on-site registration process.
Aside from this unique Starbucks branch, Aegibong Peace Ecopark also has peace- and future-themed exhibitions, gardens, an outdoor stage, and a swing bridge. Worth noting is how before it was turned into a park in 1978, the Aegibong mountain was the site of one of the fiercest battles fought by the two Korean armies during the 1950-53 Korean War.
Because of its harrowing wartime past, the site is home to a 2-meter-tall Peace Bell, which was crafted from used cartridges collected at war sites and rusty wire salvaged from the fences of the Demilitarized Zone. The bell serves as a reminder of the nation’s scarred past and tumultuous war history.
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