Starbucks Korea announced its new Community Store Jeju Sehwa Drive-Thru branch located in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, on November 6th. A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the K-Green Foundation to support the local community and raise greater awareness for sustainable practices.

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In February 2023, Starbucks Korea held a contest with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare to identify programs to support through Community Stores. The K-Green Foundation was one of the final nonprofit organizations (NGO) selected by Starbucks partners (employees) and customers. As part of the Community Store program, Starbucks Korea will collaborate with the NGO to carry out eco-friendly programs engaging the local community and creating economic opportunities in Jeju, as well as campaigns encouraging sustainable practices across Korea.

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In celebration of the new Community Store dedication, Starbucks Korea signed a partnership agreement with the K-Green Foundation at Starbucks Jeju Sehwa Drive-Thru. The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Ryan Sohn, CEO of Starbucks Korea, Teayoung Jung, director of the K-Green Foundation, and Starbucks Korea partners.

As part of the agreement, Starbucks Korea will donate up to 100 million KRW (approximately $76,000 USD) annually from a portion of proceeds from the store. The donation will support various eco-friendly activities, including volunteer activities for Starbucks partners and customers, environment-related workshops, upcycling of Starbucks coffee bean packages, and creating more economic opportunities for underserved groups in the local community.

Teayoung Jung, director of the K-Green Foundation, stated, "Starbucks Community Store will not only return benefits to the local community but will also become a space for communicating important issues and a central point for solving local, people, and social problems." He added, “I am especially delighted in K-Green Foundation’s participation in the Starbucks Community Store project with an environmental theme in beautiful Jeju.”

Ryan Sohn, CEO of Starbucks Korea, said, "I hope that the sustainable practices in Jeju will be expanded across Korea through valuable support contributed by our customers at our seventh Community Store. We will continue our efforts to support the communities we serve in meaningful ways through our Community Stores."

Starbucks Korea also plans on carrying out eco-friendly campaigns to raise greater awareness for sustainable practices, such as encouraging reusable cups, creating environmental workshops and more.

Starting with the opening of the first Community Store, Daehakro branch in 2014, Starbucks Korea has introduced Community Stores at its Seongsu Station branch (2020), Seoul National University Dental Hospital branch (2021), Juksun branch (2022), Kyungdong 1960 branch (2022), and Dongnimmun Station branch (2023), engaging in social impact programs for mutual growth with local communities.

Based on these activities, the cumulative donations to partner organizations through Community Stores from 2014 to the present amount to 3.3 billion KRW (approximately $2.5 million USD).

Following the agreement signing ceremony, Starbucks Korea partners and the K-Green Foundation conducted the first eco-friendly activity of the new Community Store at Sehwa Beach.

Starbucks Korea opens its seventh Community Store : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Korea opens its seventh Community Store

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International Coffee Day marks a moment for all coffee lovers to come together, celebrate, learn about, and be inspired by this beloved beverage.

Since it’s the connections between our partners, customers and communities that make this beverage so special, International Coffee Day is the perfect time to learn more about the personal stories behind our partners’ coffee experiences.

Kris Benny Sinuraya, Indonesia

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Coffee has been part of Kris Benny Sinuraya’s life for as long as he can remember. Growing up in a coffee farming family in Medan, Sumatra, it’s no surprise that coffee became his passion – one that has only grown since becoming a Starbucks partner.

Now a district coffee master and store manager at the Williem Iskandar Medan store, Kris Benny’s Starbucks career has been full of amazing moments, such as joining 2019’s Sumatra Origin Experience trip – an eye-opening coffee farm experience reserved for Starbucks partners to understand the origin and journey of Starbucks coffee beans. During this trip, he got the chance to visit the Starbucks Farmer Support Center in his home region. “I learned so much and jumped right in to see how the coffee journey happens from seed to cup,” he says. “When the trip finished, I immediately discussed with my family how to implement that knowledge on our coffee farm.”

Beyond that, Kris Benny believes that sharing his knowledge with Starbucks customers and partners is also vital to enhancing the coffee experience. “Ultimately, my goal is to make coffee more than just a daily routine; it’s about a culture of appreciation and connection through this beloved beverage.” For him, that has involved spearheading initiatives like creating coffee seminars and holding talks with the local community.

In that vein, Kris Benny hopes to continue making a difference to the people and future of coffee. “I will advocate for fair wages and better living conditions for coffee farmers and their communities,” he explains. “I also want to share my knowledge about coffee origins, brewing methods and the importance of quality, empowering consumers to make informed choices and appreciate the nuances of coffee. I hope to contribute to a more sustainable, ethical, and inclusive coffee culture that positively impacts both individuals and coffee-producing communities worldwide.”

Vennibell Jotiol, Malaysia

For Vennibell Jotiol, coffee has been “an amazing journey of learning and growth”.

Now a shift manager and coffee master at George Town’s Signing Store Burmah Road, <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2019/career-opportunities-expand-in-malaysia-with-opening-of-new-starbucks-signing-store-in-penang/">Starbucks’ first Signing Store in Penang</a>, Vennibell recalls being shy upon first starting her Starbucks’ journey. However, her confidence soon mounted thanks to the support of her Starbucks partners, who “provided encouragement, mentorship, and a sense of belonging that helped me believe in myself and my abilities”.

Similarly, practicing tasks such as preparing coffees and interacting with customers daily when she was a barista, followed by expanding her knowledge through the coffee master program, further boosted her confidence and expertise. These days she finds herself guiding partners to follow in her footsteps of achieving coffee master status – offering knowledge, training, and support to “create an environment where everyone can grow and develop their coffee skills to the fullest”.

“Coffee has provided me with a means to engage more deeply with both our partners and customers,” Vennibell adds. “I’ve been able to foster stronger connections, meaningful conversations and build a sense of community among us.”

Empowering Deaf partners like herself is a cause particularly close to Vennibell’s heart and she aims to create more opportunities for Deaf partners to enter coffee competitions and showcase their skills to the public. “I hope to break down barriers and stereotypes while fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities,” she explains.

While she’s now in a position to teach others, Vennibell is eager to continue learning and hopes to achieve advanced coffee master certification across various brewing methods. She aspires to then take that knowledge to educate even more Deaf individuals about coffee, enabling them to receive the same level of teaching as hearing individuals. “My goal is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their hearing ability, can fully appreciate and excel in the world of coffee.”

Hangeul Lee, South Korea

“My role in coffee is like a tour guide,” Hangeul Lee enthuses. “I taste various kinds and study coffee from countries all over the world, then I share those experiences with customers. Although I haven’t visited those countries in person, I feel like I’m making a trip there through coffee.”

A shift supervisor and coffee master at <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/beautiful-new-starbucks-store-opens-in-south-korea/">Seoul’s Byuldabang store</a> , Hangeul loves exploring the diversity of coffee and passing that knowledge onto customers. Part of delving deeper into coffee’s origins for her coffee master certification meant discovering more about ethical sourcing – information that she is proud to share with Starbucks’ drinkers. “Customers don’t always know how we harvest coffee and how it’s grown, but I want to let them know the importance of fair trade, so that we can be fair to both coffee farms and farmers and help them raise their quality of life.”

Given coffee’s popularity in South Korea – the country ranks second highest in the world for coffee consumption – Hangeul is thrilled to see other sustainable initiatives being adopted by her community. She highlights Starbucks’ introduction of reusable cup programs in South Korea, including at her own Byuldabang branch, with a discount or bonus star offered to customers who bring their own cups.

“Creating eco-friendly stores informs customers about sustainability and resilient coffee supplies,” Hangeul explains. “It provides an option to participate in helping the environment while buying a cup of coffee.”

Tuxsaporn Wattanayotin, Thailand

“It’s not just coffee we serve every day,” says Tuxsaporn Wattanayotin. “Our coffee is something that connects people.”

Having been with Starbucks for 11 years, Tuxsaporn is now an assistant store manager at Chiang Mai’s Ruamchok Mall branch and coffee master who finished runner-up in 2022’s Asia-Pacific Coffee Story Championship. She is passionate about telling customers the story behind their cup of coffee “to inspire them and make them appreciate the people behind it”.

Having grown up in a coffee producing area, she is especially eager to showcase “another side of the story”, telling customers about the farmers who dedicate their lives to growing and developing coffee.

While describing herself as shy, Tuxsaporn has seen her confidence grow through these storytelling moments, saying “I can make a lot of friends through coffee!” She fondly remembers one of her first coffee tastings with a customer, where she deliberately chose to showcase Starbucks’ Muan Jai Blend, which is produced in the area where she grew up.

After relating the farmers’ hard work and how profits from the blend improved their quality of life, she describes how her customer “took a sip and said it was the best cup of coffee they’d ever had”. She continues, “They said it was because the story I told them made the coffee more delicious – and to keep telling this to other customers so they’d know that good coffee makes good things happen for the people that grow it”.

It's this connection between herself, coffee farmers, and customers that Tuxsaporn values most of all. “When customers hear these stories, it’s not just about the taste of the coffee – I can feel the happiness in their hearts.”

Our Journeys Through Coffee: Celebrate International Coffee Day 2023 with four of our Asia-Pacific Partners : Starbucks Stories Asia

Our Journeys Through Coffee: Celebrate International Coffee Day 2023 with four of our Asia-Pacific Partners

International Coffee Day marks a moment for all coffee lovers to come together, celebrate, learn about, and be inspired by this beloved beverage. Learn more about the personal stories behind our partners’ coffee experiences.

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Portion of proceeds from store will be donated to provide skills training, career development and academic scholarships for family members of those who served with distinction

The Community Store is a partnership between Starbucks Korea, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and Korea National Council on Social Welfare

Starbucks Korea inaugurated its Dongnimmun Station store as the sixth Community Store in the market on August 18th, dedicated to creating pathways to opportunities for families of men and women of national merit who served with distinction.

A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the Korea National Council on Social Welfare to provide academic scholarships and coffee skills training for underserved youth, who are descendants of men and women of national merit, seeking employment opportunities in the coffee industry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In celebration of the new Community Store dedication, Starbucks Korea signed a three-way agreement with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare. The signing ceremony was attended by:

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As part of the agreement, Starbucks Korea plans to donate a total of 300 million KRW (approximately $224,000 USD) in scholarships over the next three years, while also conducting a coffee skills-training program in partnership with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The new Community Store, which is located near a historic site, Dongnimmun, features a mural by local artist Lee Eunjoo, honoring the valor and noble spirit of men and women who served the country. There is also a digital community board showcasing various social impact activities by Starbucks Korea to support the local community.

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“The support from Starbucks Korea and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare will provide greater stability for the descendants of those who have devoted themselves to serving the country. We will continue our efforts to honor and support this community and hope the interest will spread across our society,” said Park Minshik, minister, Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

“We are pleased to be part of this very meaningful agreement to provide aid for descendants of men and women of national merit. We will focus on developing more innovative social impact models in the future,” said Kim Soung-Yee, president, Korea National Council on Social Welfare.

“This Community Store speaks to our mission to help nurture the limitless possibilities of human connection, as we contribute positively to the community," said Michael Conway, group president, Starbucks International and Channel Development. “We are proud that through this store model, we’re able to create environments for Starbucks partners to connect with, engage and give back to the communities they serve in meaningful ways around the world.”

“We were able to honor the service of men and women who served with distinction by providing academic scholarships to their descendants since 2015 and our new Community Store represents our unwavering commitment and continued support,” said Ryan Sohn, ceo, Starbucks Korea. “Starbucks remains committed to creating more meaningful occasions for our customers and partners through its Community Stores.”

Starbucks Korea opened its <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2014/starbucks-opens-first-community-store-in-korea-to-create-pathways-to-opport/">first Community Store</a> in 2014, which supports lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Youth Leadership Program. Today, Starbucks Korea operates 6 Community Stores in the market, and has donated over 3 billion KRW (approximately $2.2 million USD) cumulatively to support local communities. Since entering the market in 1999, Starbucks Korea has grown to be one of the largest markets for Starbucks, with 1,848 stores across 82 cities. Today, more than 23,000 partners (employees) proudly wear the green apron.&nbsp;

Starbucks dedicates its 6th Community Store in South Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks dedicates its 6th Community Store in South Korea

Portion of proceeds from store will be donated to provide skills training, career development and academic scholarships for family members of those who served with distinction

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The Starbucks Foundation has a 25-year history of investing in communities across the U.S. and globally. In March 2022, The Starbucks Foundation announced a $30 million investment by 2030 in its Global Community Impact Grants portfolio designed to drive locally relevant impact in the communities where Starbucks operates around the world. In the second year of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/global-community-impact-grants/">Global Community Impact Grants</a> program, The Starbucks Foundation awarded grants to more than 90 nonprofits, all nominated by Starbucks international licensees, and will reach communities in 46 markets. Between grants and co-investment from international licensees, more than $3.8 million was awarded in 2023 for causes aligned to The Starbucks Foundation’s community impact goals, including youth workforce development, inclusion &amp; diversity, social services, hunger relief, economic opportunity, and coffee-, tea- and cocoa-growing communities. In Asia Pacific, the Foundation awarded 29 grants across 14 markets for causes ranging from youth empowerment and hunger relief, to promoting economic opportunity to workforce development, and social services. Grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations in Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/global-community-impact-grants/">Learn more</a> about the program and organizations we support in Asia Pacific and across the globe. Highlights from select grantees in Asia Pacific include:

ChildFund Korea, South Korea The Starbucks Youth Leadership Program, supported by Starbucks Korea’s first Community Store, is a holistic 4-year program that partners with ChildFund Korea to offer academic scholarships through college graduation. The program also provides a unique curriculum focused on building business acumen, collaborative communications, and social consciousness as part of its aim to prepare young people from disadvantaged backgrounds for educational and career opportunities in Korea’s economy.

 With additional support from The Starbucks Foundation, over 80 students have been supported through the program and new students will be selected in May 2023. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant will support the current group of students to gain business development skills and other training for career development over the coming year.

Gawad Kalinga, Philippines As part of the Global Community Impact Grants, The Starbucks Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to Gawad Kalinga’s Kusina ng Kalinga in April 2022 supporting nutrition for 600 youth in two communities in Quezon City and Laguna, as well as providing nutrition education and support for building and maintaining community vegetable gardens. Starbucks Philippines donated an additional $25,000 each to the Philippine FoodBank Foundation and Gawad Kalinga to expand its hunger relief programs in 2023 in the Visayas region. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant from The Starbucks Foundation will enable Gawad Kalinga to provide nutritious meals to an additional 1,200 children, host family health and nutrition educational workshops, and train 30 Community Food Farmers to build vegetable gardens.

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, Indonesia

In September 2022, The Starbucks Foundation and Starbucks Indonesia partnered with Habitat for Humanity Indonesia to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in Bojong Koneng village in Bogor district, West Java, Indonesia. Over 70 Starbucks Indonesia partners (employees) and Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, helped to build 21 toilets to support the wellbeing, health, and resilience of this rural community. 

Habitat for Humanity Indonesia is a long-time partner on disaster relief. Most recently, The Starbucks Foundation supported rebuilding efforts in Cianjur West Java, after an earthquake struck in November 2022. This included providing temporary shelter to families, as well as latrines for impacted communities. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant will help Habitat for Humanity improve wellbeing, health status, and resiliency of the Karawang community in West Java through safe and decent housing and household WASH improvements for low-income families. 

Scholars of Sustenance Foundation (SOS), Thailand The Scholars of Sustenance Foundation’s Rescue Kitchen provided more than 430,000 meals to communities from October 2022 to March 2023, with the support of a Global Community Impact Grant. Fifty partners assisted in these efforts by preparing meals for Klong Ladpachee and Wat Ampawa communities. The most recent Global Community Impact Grant will further expand the Rescue Kitchen’s network through a “cooking hero” training for community volunteers that will increase community access to nutritious food. The Global Community Impact Grant complements Starbucks Thailand’s FoodShare program which has donated more than 6,500 kilograms of surplus food, representing nearly 28,000 meals to communities in need, in January to March 2023.

Supporting Economic Opportunity, Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief and Social Services in Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

Supporting Economic Opportunity, Youth Workforce Development, Hunger Relief and Social Services in Asia Pacific

In Asia Pacific, the Starbucks Foundation awarded 21 grants across 12 markets for causes ranging from youth empowerment and hunger relief to promoting economic opportunity to workforce development to hunger relief to social services.

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Enjoy the season of blossom alongside new spring beverages, food options and merchandise in South Korea for a limited period of time.

Spring Strawberry Milk: A sweet combination of local Seolhyang strawberries and milk that can be enjoyed with plant-based options (oat milk, coconut milk) perfect for the spring season. Available as iced handcrafted beverage.

Lilac Blossom Tea: A colorfully layered beverage that visually expresses ‘lilac blossom’. The sweet taste of acacia honey and herbal notes are reminiscent of lilac with added texture of aloe jelly. Available as a hot and iced handcrafted beverage.

Strawberry Chocolate Cake: Returning for the 3rd time, this delightful cake comes with layers of chocolate whipped cream and strawberry compote, topped with fresh strawberries perfect for the strawberry season.

Strawberry Yogurt Cream Castella: A returning favorite dessert for the spring with yogurt cream and Korean strawberries in soft castella.

Inspired by the fresh colors during the day and charming scenery of the night of cherry blossoms, the spring merchandise collection of drinkware and lifestyle accessories is a must-have for outdoor picnics to admire the bloom of spring.

Embrace a spring state of mind with Starbucks Korea's new seasonal menu and merchandise : Starbucks Stories Asia

Embrace a spring state of mind with Starbucks Korea&#8217;s new seasonal menu and merchandise

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Embrace a spring state of mind with Starbucks Korea’s new seasonal menu and merchandise

Opened on Feb. 15, the Bukhansan store is a unique space where everyone could enjoy an embrace by the Korean mountains alongside beverage inspired by the local ingredients, right in the heart of the city of Seoul.

Located near the entrance of the famous Bukhansan National Park, the store spans 1,100 square meters over two floors and a rooftop. Among the 253 seats, 66 are outdoor on the rooftop, where customers could enjoy at the same time their favourite beverage and a panoramic view of the foothills of Bukhansan Mountain, without leaving the city center at all.

Echoing the nature immediately outside of the store, the Bukhansan store features a special photo zone with stunning images of the mountain in the background. A walking trail, created through beautiful trees and a waterscape space just outside the store, further characterizes the unique store experience that combines urbanity and nature.

Two special beverages have been created in celebration of the opening of Starbucks Bukhansan. Green Mugwort Blended Beverage is a savory and sweet blended beverage made with malcha shots, local mugwort and grains. Green Mugwort Cream Latte is a delicious smooth latte made with the Starbucks Blonde Espresso, local mugwort and grains. These two beverages are available at five stores across Korea including The Bukhansan, The Yangpyeong DTR, The Bukhangang R, Gyeongdong 1960 and Daegu Jongro Gotaek.

Besides The Bukhansan, the signature Starbucks experience blended with scenic views could be also found in a number of stores in Korea, such as The Bukhangang R, The Yangpyeong DTR and recently-opened Daegu Jongro Gotaek.

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The Bukhansan store in South Korea blends city life in Seoul with serenity in nature : Starbucks Stories Asia

The Bukhansan store in South Korea blends city life in Seoul with serenity in nature

Opened on Feb. 15, the Bukhansan store is a unique space where everyone could enjoy an embrace by the Korean mountains alongside beverage inspired by the local ingredients, right in the heart of the city of Seoul. Located near the entrance of the famous Bukhansan National Park, the store spans 1,100 square meters over two […]

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In Asia Pacific, company achieves net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months

Milestone underscores Starbucks accelerated growth across the region where the company expects to open more than 400 stores in 2023 &nbsp;

New drive-thru in South Korea represents Starbucks commitment to diversifying and expanding its store portfolio to bring the Starbucks Experience to more customers seeking comfort and convenience

Starbucks has achieved its 5,000th store opening in Gwangyang-si, South Korea, marking a significant milestone in its continued growth journey in the Asia Pacific region where it has achieved net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months. Located on a major road that connects residential areas with business districts, the new drive-thru store represents a diversifying portfolio and continued expansion across the Asia Pacific region.

“The opening of our 5,000th store in Asia Pacific reaffirms our commitment to bring the unparalleled Starbucks Experience to more customers in one of our fastest growing regions,” said Michael Conway, group president, International and Channel Development for Starbucks. “Asia Pacific is a dynamic and diverse engine of growth for Starbucks globally. As recovery continues, the region achieved over 20% sales growth year on year, demonstrating the strength and relevance of the brand. We are well positioned for further growth with our licensed business partners, who continue to elevate the Starbucks Experience across a range of innovative store formats.”

Accelerating store expansion across cities in Asia Pacific

Remaining true to its mission – to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time – Starbucks plans to expand further in the region by opening 400 stores this year to serve additional communities in major cities and beyond.

In the vast market of India, Starbucks plans to build on its existing portfolio of over 300 stores across 40 cities by extending its footprint into at least five new cities. Across Southeast Asia, the company also plans to expand its stores beyond the metropolitan areas of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In Laos where it <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/starbucks-brings-welcoming-third-place-to-laos/">first opened its doors in November</a> last year in the capital city of Vientiane, Starbucks also plans to open a new store this year.

Diversifying store formats to meet evolving customer preferences

Strategically located along a major road in the highly populated residential area in Gwangyang-si, the new Gwangyang Madong drive-thru store is a 500 sqm freestanding store that is easily accessible from Gwangyang IC and Suncheong City. Fully equipped with the latest digital features and technology, the new drive-thru store offers customers on-the-go the convenience of enjoying a beverage from the comfort of their cars; and customers that choose to visit the store a warm and welcoming third place to connect while enjoying their favorite coffee.

Taking inspiration from the vibrant nature of the area, the exterior of the building features soft curved corners complimented by oversized windows, sometimes spanning over two floors, located on multiple sides of the building. The abundance of natural light flowing in highlights the warm and muted colour tones, along with the smooth forms inside the store, providing a pleasant contrast to the colourful and vibrant art pieces that celebrate coffee and the communities that support it. This deliberate combination of elements contributes to creating a refreshing and tranquil atmosphere for customers to enjoy their favorite cup of coffee in beautiful surroundings.

Starbucks drive-thru stores across Asia Pacific have more than doubled in the last four years, many of which have become community hubs at residential areas, with some fitted out with private rooms that can be booked for business meetings, study sessions or family gatherings. Building on its existing portfolio of over 600 drive-thru stores in the region, Starbucks plans to add over 100 more this year to cater to customers wanting to enjoy a welcoming third place in the neighborhood or a beverage on the move.

Emmy Kan, president for Starbucks Asia Pacific said, “That our 5000th store in Asia Pacific is a drive-thru store speaks both to the changing habits of our customers, and of our determination to meet them where it is most convenient, while still offering the Starbucks connection. We will continually enhance our store formats and innovate, not just to cater to changing customer behaviors, but also to fuel growth in Asia Pacific.”

Building on the welcoming third place experience Starbucks is known for, the company also plans to open more Starbucks Reserve stores across Asia Pacific to bring customers an intimate, multi-sensory coffee experience that features a selection of the rarest, most extraordinary coffees Starbucks has to offer. There are now more than 145 Starbucks Reserve stores across 11 Asia Pacific markets.

Starbucks reaches 5,000-store milestone in its continued expansion across Asia Pacific : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks reaches 5,000-store milestone in its continued expansion across Asia Pacific

Marking a significant milestone in its continued growth journey in the Asia Pacific region where it has achieved net new store growth of 8% over the past 12 months.

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Rejuvenating the traditional marketplace through reimagination, connecting the past to the present

Today, Starbucks Korea announced the opening of its fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ on December 16th, dedicated towards revitalizing and restoring the long-standing heritage of the Kyundong Market, alongside the local community of the marketplace.

As part of Starbucks Korea’s ongoing commitment to strengthen communities through the expansion of the <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-korea-announces-aspirations/">Community Store program</a>, the Starbucks Korea ‘Kyungdong 1960’ Community Store will donate 300 Korean won (approximately 25 cents USD) for every item sold at the Community Store to the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP) to revive and refurbish the infrastructure of the Kyundong old market. The company will also host community gatherings and support various activities, creating a welcoming space for the local community to connect.

“This store not only stands for mutual growth with the local community but also a much-cherished meeting place for the locals,” said Jeonghyun Sohn, ceo of Starbucks Korea. “We hope to create meaningful occasions for customers of all generations and contribute to revitalizing the traditional marketplace.”

The new store pays tribute to the old Kyungdong Theater, originally built in the 1960’s, that has been lost since its closure in 1994. Previously, a beloved location as a community hub , Starbucks Korea pays homage by preserving the architect and existing materials of the old theater, modified with a touch of retro and modern design elements, bringing together the nostalgic ambience of 1960s and the signature Starbucks coffee experience.

The beautiful store spans two floors (third and fourth floors of Kyungdong Market) and 805 square meters with 143 seats. The double-doored entrance, which was preserved from the original structure, leads to the center of the store with the bar serving as the main stage. With seats in rows facing forward, customers can enjoy the view of the bar as if enjoying a performance in a theater. There will be regular cultural and musical performances by local artists in the store, providing a unique Starbucks experience for customers.

To commemorate the opening of its fifth Community Store, Starbucks Korea will sign a cooperative-coexistence agreement with the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP), the Kyungdong Market Merchants Association, and KD Market on December 15.

Since opening its first store in 1999, Starbucks Korea has opened more than 1,750 stores across 78 cities nationwide, with more than 21,000 partners now proudly wearing the green apron. Starbucks Korea opened its first Community Store in 2014, which supports lifelong skills development for youth through the Starbucks Comprehensive Youth Leadership Program. Today, Starbucks Korea operates 5 Community Stores in the market, supporting local communities.

Starbucks opens fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ to support the local community : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens fifth Community Store ‘Kyungdong 1960’ to support the local community

The Community Store rejuvenates the traditional marketplace through reimagination, connecting the past to the present.

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On November 23, Starbucks Coffee Korea opened its Juksun branch as the fourth Community Store in the market, dedicated to creating pathways to opportunities for young people leaving care homes to begin their adult lives. A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the Beautiful Foundation to support life skills development programs. In addition, Starbucks will provide coffee skills training for young people seeking employment opportunities in the coffee industry, as well as career readiness training for underserved youth. “Starbucks Community Store is a creative social impact model that helps consumers participate in sharing in their everyday life and contributes to prospering together with the local community.” said Chan Hee Han, chairman of the Beautiful Foundation. He added, “I hope this will be an opportunity to inform young people who are preparing for self-reliance that our society is cheering for them.” Starbucks has partnered with the Beautiful Foundation since January 2020. Over the past three years, the partnership has created a KRW 900 million self-reliance fund to help young people leaving care homes develop a strong foundation for their future. Starbucks and the Beautiful Foundation will continue to provide opportunities and support through this new Community Store.

To expand outreach to local communities through Community Stores, Starbucks is hosting a “Build Your Community Store” contest, with the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, and accepting applications from nonprofit organizations (NGO) through December 5. The contest will culminate in the opening of a new Community Store with the winning NGO, a prize of KRW 50 million to help launch the NGO’s program, as well as an opportunity to visit a Starbucks Community Store in another market. Participating NGOs may submit a proposal addressing one of the following topics: creating employment opportunities for vulnerable communities; expanding community outreach and engagement; providing skills training and self-reliance support; or a topic of choice aimed at solving a community problem. A total of three projects will be selected by a panel of professional judges, voting by customers and partners.

Starbucks opens fourth Community Store in Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks opens fourth Community Store in Korea

On November 23, Starbucks Coffee Korea opened its Juksun branch as the fourth Community Store in the market, dedicated to creating pathways to opportunities for young people leaving care homes to begin their adult lives. A portion of proceeds from the store will be donated to the Beautiful Foundation to support life skills development programs. […]

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On October 20, Starbucks Coffee Korea opened the new Daegu Jongro Gotaek store in a century-old hanok, a traditional Korean home. Built in 1919, the structure has been restored and reinterpreted as a space where coffee blends with the traditions and more than 100 years of history of the central commercial area of Daegu, South Korea.

The original décor of the hanok was preserved as much as possible, including roof tiles, beams and flooring, while bringing together a modern Starbucks experience. Honoring Daegu's heritage as the birthplace of classical music appreciation rooms in Korea and a city of culture and art, Starbucks collaborated with Bang &amp; Olufsen, a global premium audio brand, to build a space to listen and enjoy music from the design stage of the store. Connecting the past and present through music, customers can experience high-quality music anywhere in the store.

The space is divided into two interior areas and an outdoor garden: a traditional century-old atmosphere with a view of the tranquil outdoor garden, as well as a modern area consisting of a coffee bar for beverages, with a total of 120 seats.

In addition, there is a separate music listening area in the corner of the store where customers can enjoy high-quality music with coffee. In the music listening area, a fully automatic turntable is also displayed to add to the ambience of the space. High-quality speakers installed throughout the store provides a special music experience that can only be felt at Daegu Jongro Gotaek store.

Starbucks Korea opens new store in historic wooden building : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Korea opens new store in historic wooden building

Starbucks opens a beautiful new store in a restored Korean hanok.

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Starbucks today announced the “Halla Mungyeong Sweet Tea”, a local beverage developed by Starbucks Korea in partnership with the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP) and the National Café Owners Association (NCOA), in support of small business in the coffee industry across South Korea. As a part of the cooperative-coexistence agreement between the three parties, the beverage will be sold exclusively in 100 local coffee shops across South Korea.

Developed using the popular, local flavors of Hallabong and Omija, 'Halla Mungyeong Sweet Tea' is made with fresh, local produce, capturing the spirit of the cooperative partnership with community farmers and small business owners.

In celebration of the launch of the new beverage, a Cooperative Coexistence Beverage Delivery Ceremony was held at the Starbucks Korea Support Center on August 31 and attended by Starbucks Korea ceo, David Song, KCCP Chairman Oh Young-kyo, NCOA Chairman Koh Jang-su, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Cho Ju-hyeon.

"We are truly excited to communicate and collaborate with small business owners through the common medium of beverage and achieve a meaningful outcome of a new cooperative-coexistence beverage,” said David Song, ceo of Starbucks Korea. “Starting with the launch of this new beverage, we will continue to implement similar initiatives to support small business owners in the coffee industry.”

Strengthening communities with opportunities for all

In addition to actively participating in activities to discover, operate, and support similar programs with small local cafés, Starbucks Korea also plans to provide maintenance support of facilities and service education for SMEs which include emergency assistance due to disasters.

With the launch of this new beverage, Starbucks Coffee Korea reinforces its commitment to helping reduce the challenges that small and medium-sized business café owners face, as we continue to strive to strengthen and invest in the well-being of our local communities.

Starbucks launches local beverage to be sold in 100 coffee shops across South Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks launches local beverage to be sold in 100 coffee shops across South Korea

Starbucks today announced the “Halla Mungyeong Sweet Tea”, a local beverage developed by Starbucks Korea in partnership with the Korean Commissions for Corporate Partnership (KCCP) and the National Café Owners Association (NCOA), in support of small business in the coffee industry across South Korea.  As a part of the cooperative-coexistence agreement between the three parties, […]

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/starbucks-launches-local-beverage-to-be-sold-in-100-coffee-shops-across-south-korea/

For a limited time, Starbucks customers in Korea can enjoy refreshing new beverages and merchandise perfect for starting the summer, including:

This week, three new beverages join the summer lineup: 

Refreshing new summer sips available in Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Refreshing new summer sips available in Korea

New beverages and merchandise in South Korea will make your summer sweeter.

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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2022/refreshing-new-summer-sips-available-in-korea/