Starbucks Opens at Border Area Gimpo Aegibong
1.4 km from North Korea... Foreign Media Also Report Continuously
The 'Starbucks Gimpo Aegibong Ecological Park Branch,' located at the observatory of Aegibong Peace Ecological Park in Wolgot-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi Province, a border area, is attracting attention from foreign media.
On the 29th, major foreign media outlets such as CNN and AP simultaneously reported on the scenes of the first day of the opening of Starbucks Gimpo Aegibong Ecological Park Branch. AP News explained, "At the Starbucks located at the Korean border observatory, customers can enjoy a quiet North Korean mountain village along with their drinks," adding, "To enter this Starbucks, which is only 1.4 km away from North Korea, one must first pass through a military checkpoint."
CNN reported, "On clear days, you can see North Korea’s low-rise buildings and farms, and if you have a high-performance telescope or a camera with zoom function, you can even see the residents," noting that the observatory outside Starbucks was crowded with guests eager to view the North Korean scenery. However, it also explained that South and North Korea are still technically at war since the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Furthermore, it highlighted the symbolic significance of this Starbucks opening amid rising tensions between the two Koreas.
People looking around the scenery at Starbucks Gimpo Aegibong Ecological Park branch. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.
A local resident who visited Starbucks Gimpo Aegibong Ecological Park Branch that day told foreign media, "I want to share this delicious coffee with the people living in North Korea right in front of us," while another guest who had participated in the Vietnam War said, "The concept of security gave a sense of tension, but now, with this caf?, it feels more peaceful and reassuring." Kim Byung-su, mayor of Gimpo, described the place as "a unique location representing the charm of Korean culture," and said, "I hope this place, where you can enjoy the one and only scenery and beautiful sunset in the world, becomes a landmark that shares the pain of separated families and the warmth of family."
Aegibong was one of the fierce battlegrounds where South and North Korean forces fought during the Korean War. Currently, the park houses a monument, exhibition hall, and garden dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Korean War. The establishment of Starbucks at the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park observatory is part of efforts to promote tourism in border areas adjacent to North Korea, such as Gimpo and Paju. Starting with this Starbucks opening, Gimpo Aegibong Ecological Park is expected to become a new landmark that reflects on the historical significance of the border area and prays for peace.
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