Starbucks will open a unique location next month at the Aegibong Observatory in Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province. Customers will enjoy the rare experience of enjoying their coffee while overlooking North Korean territory up close.
The Chosun Ilbo reported on Wednesday that Starbucks Korea and Gimpo City recently signed a lease agreement on October 16 for the second floor of the Aegibong Observatory. The lease will allow Starbucks to operate at this location until 2028, and renovations are set to be completed by November 27.
The second floor of the Aegibong Observatory measures 136 square meters (approximately 1,463 square feet) and will provide a modest seating area with around ten seats. This will allow customers to gaze down at North Korean territory through the windows. Starbucks also plans to introduce special drink menus exclusive to the Aegibong Observatory location and souvenirs such as Aegibong-themed mugs.
Gimpo City has actively pursued the establishment of the Starbucks store at the Aegibong Observatory, hoping to make it a landmark symbolizing world peace in the world’s only divided country.
Meanwhile, Gimpo City plans to illuminate various parts of the Aegibong Observatory by hanging lights at the end of this year.
Aegibong is a 154-meter-high (505-foot-high) mountain peak in the northernmost part of Gimpo City on the western front. It stands at the confluence of the Han and Imjin Rivers before they flow into the West Sea, just 1.4 kilometers (0.87 miles) from North Korea’s Gaepung County. The site offers direct views of North Korean villages. The Aegibong Peace Eco Park surrounds the area, featuring an observatory, the Bell of Peace, a suspension bridge, and a performance venue.
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