A Starbucks perched just 1.4 kilometers from the North Korean border has drawn more than 120,000 visitors in only seven months, transforming a remote peace park into an unexpected tourism destination.
The store, which opened in November 2024 inside Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, offers customers sweeping views of the Han and Imjin Rivers, the West Sea (Yellow Sea), and even a portion of Kaepung County in North Korea’s Hwanghae Province.
Since its opening, the Starbucks has attracted a steady stream of visitors — despite the location’s restricted access. The park sits north of South Korea’s civilian control line, requiring advance reservations and shuttle transport through military checkpoints.
Between January and April 2025 alone, Aegibong Peace Ecopark saw 129,000 visitors, more than double the number from the same period the year before. Starbucks Korea reports an average of 1,000 visitors per day on weekends, double the weekday traffic, with families making up a large share of customers. Food sales at the store are roughly 30% higher than at typical Starbucks locations.
The site’s popularity has earned it an informal nickname: the “North Korea View Starbucks.” International outlets including CNN, Reuters, and the Associated Press have spotlighted the store for its unique vantage point across the heavily guarded border.
Foreign tourism has surged as well. So far this year, the park has welcomed an average of 3,300 foreign visitors per month, up from just 1,300 per month last year.
The store operates on shortened hours — from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — in line with the park’s military-regulated schedule. But limited access hasn’t discouraged the crowds eager for a rare chance to sip coffee while looking into North Korea.
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