Mugs and Tumblers Featuring Images of Aegibong Peace Ecological Park in High Demand
Caf? Lounge Remodeling in Exhibition Hall Drives Sixfold Increase in Sales Compared to First Half of the Year
The "Aegibong Mug Cup," produced by Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Byungsoo) in collaboration with Starbucks, sold out completely on September 6, less than a month after its launch on August 13.
The mug cup, which features major tourist attractions in Gimpo including the Aegibong Peace Observatory, was designed as a limited-edition souvenir available exclusively at Aegibong. Since attracting the world-renowned coffee brand Starbucks at the end of last year, the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park has established itself as a tourist destination drawing attention from various generations and foreign media alike.
In particular, there has been a noticeable surge in foreign visitors. The proportion of international tourists increased from about 8% in 2024 to approximately 13% in 2025, and reached as high as 18.6% in April this year, showing a clear upward trend.
The "Starbucks Aegibong Mug Cup" has garnered attention as the first destination-specific souvenir created through collaboration between a basic local government and a global brand. The recent sellout further proves its popularity, making it even more meaningful.
Recently, the city expanded the souvenir sales area and significantly improved the display and overall sales environment by remodeling the caf? lounge inside the Aegibong Peace Ecological Park exhibition hall. After the remodeling, sales in August increased more than sixfold compared to the first half of 2025, highlighting a remarkable growth in revenue.
Purchasing souvenirs is more than a simple act of consumption for tourists; it symbolizes having personally experienced Gimpo’s iconic sites. Moreover, it is becoming a cultural practice to remember and share the special place of Aegibong. Souvenirs serve as a means of conveying the brand identity of a tourist destination, playing an important role in imprinting the unique story and characteristics of the area on visitors.
Accordingly, Gimpo City plans to continue creating a variety of souvenirs through collaborations with different companies, as well as through in-house development and active marketing efforts. This strategy is based on the analysis that Aegibong souvenirs naturally promote the city, increase brand awareness, and enhance tourist satisfaction.
A Gimpo City official stated, "The complete sellout of the Starbucks Aegibong Mug Cup and the record-breaking sales of souvenirs at Aegibong Peace Ecological Park demonstrate the rapidly growing demand for Gimpo's tourism content. As souvenirs serve as ambassadors that help visitors remember and return to Gimpo, we will continue to discover creative souvenirs and provide spaces that satisfy both citizens and tourists, delivering Gimpo’s tourism assets in a multidimensional way."
Meanwhile, the sold-out Starbucks-Gimpo City mug cup is scheduled to be reproduced and will be restocked around the end of November.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
