Tourists flock to Starbucks overlooking North Korea
Tourists flock to Starbucks overlooking North Korea
Less than 2km from North Korea, the Starbucks at Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, has become an unlikely attraction.
Visitors book ahead, board a shuttle and pass through a military checkpoint before reaching the hilltop cafe overlooking North Korea.
One visitor described the experience as standing between "polar opposites" – a global coffee chain facing one of the world's most isolated states.
The cafe has transformed the park's popularity. Visitor numbers have more than doubled since it opened in November 2024, with foreign arrivals rising sharply.
