Starbucks has hit a milestone in South Korea, with its store count surpassing 2,000 locations, Digital Times reported on January 1st. This achievement positions South Korea with the third-highest number of Starbucks outlets globally, trailing only the United States and China. Japan previously held the 3rd.
As of the report date, Starbucks boasts 2,002 stores across South Korea. The capital city, Seoul, leads with 633 locations, followed by Gyeonggi Province with 491, Busan with 144, Daegu with 92, and Incheon with 82.
At the close of 2022, South Korea had 1,893 Starbucks stores, ranking fourth worldwide behind Japan’s 1,901. However, the past year saw over 100 new store openings in South Korea, enabling it to leapfrog Japan. In contrast, Japan’s store count grew by only about 80, reaching 1,986 (including 175 licensed locations) by the end of 2023, resulting in South Korea taking the lead.
The expansion of Starbucks in South Korea is particularly noteworthy when considering its growth trajectory. In late 2017, the country had 1,262 stores, trailing Japan by roughly 150 locations. This gap steadily narrowed to about 120 by the end of 2019, 60 by late 2020, and a mere 8 by the close of 2022—the tables turned by the end of 2023, with South Korea overtaking Japan.
Industry analysts attribute Starbucks’ rapid expansion to its strong brand image, excellent store accessibility, and loyal customer base.
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