Starbucks Opens Café Near Korean Demilitarized Zone

The new location at Aegibong Peace Ecopark offers visitors a rare view into North Korea, blending tourism and symbolism on a historically tense border.

The Starbucks café is located at Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, less than a mile from North Korean territory and near the heavily militarized Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Visitors must pass a military checkpoint to access the café, which offers views of North Korea's Kaephung county and Songaksan mountain through large windows and telescopes.
The café is part of local efforts to transform the border area into a tourist destination, with officials aiming to shift its perception from 'dark and depressing' to a symbol of peace and security.
The site holds historical significance as a former Korean War battle location and includes additional attractions such as a war memorial, gardens, and exhibition halls.
The opening comes during heightened tensions between North and South Korea, with recent incidents involving trash-filled balloons, destroyed inter-Korean infrastructure, and nuclear threats from Pyongyang.