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

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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

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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https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2023/the-bukhansan-store-in-south-korea-blends-city-life-in-seoul-with-serenity-in-nature/

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.

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

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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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In support of Starbucks resource positive aspirations, the company will begin testing the operation of electric vehicles (EVs) to supply select stores in Seoul. Starbucks Coffee Korea today announced the rollout of a new partnership with long-time logistics provider CJ Logistics to transition Starbucks operational fleet in South Korea to electric vehicles, unveiled <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2021/starbucks-korea-announces-aspirations/">last year</a> as part of Starbucks Coffee Korea’s bold sustainability commitments. Starting in April, six stores in the city center and Gangnam area will be supplied by EVs, with plans to gradually expand the fleet across the Seoul metro area and the supply chain nationwide. The round-trip distance from the distribution center to the stores is about 140 km, with each EV able to travel up to 180 km on a single rapid charge.

“I’m glad that the deliveries to our store will now arrive in electric vehicles,” says Philip, a partner at the Seoul Tower store in Namsan. “With our store located in the heart of Seoul, we are pleased to be the first to introduce this innovation, and as a partner I am very proud that Starbucks is leading the way in the introduction of more planet-friendly, sustainable operations.”

“We are incredibly excited to begin this new program in Seoul,” said David Song, ceo, Starbucks Coffee Korea. “Environmental sustainability is one of the major pillars of our social impact strategy, and our customers have joined us on this journey every step of the way. We’re proud to be able to share this new initiative to support the operations of our stores in Seoul, as we continue to work toward becoming a resource positive company.”

Since entering the market in 1999, Starbucks Coffee Korea has grown rapidly to become Starbucks fourth largest market, with more than 1,600 stores across 78 cities nationwide. Today, more than 20,700 partners proudly wear the green apron in Korea.

Starbucks partner in Korea receives a supply delivery via electric vehicle

Starbucks Coffee Korea Begins Electric Vehicle Operations in Seoul : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks Coffee Korea Begins Electric Vehicle Operations in Seoul

Zero-emission EVs are now supplying select Starbucks stores in Korea.

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The warmth of spring returns to Starbucks stores across South Korea. For a limited time starting March 22, customers can enjoy new and returning seasonal favorites along with beautiful merchandise inspired by cherry blossoms.

New and returning beverages include the Midnight Bergamot Cold Brew, Pink Crystal Chamomile Tea, Pine Coco Green Yogurt Blended, and Strawberry Dream Malcha Latte, along with a new Cherry Blossom Chocolate Cake.

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Cherry blossom merchandise available at Starbucks in Korea

Dreamy spring flavors blossom at Starbucks Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Dreamy spring flavors blossom at Starbucks Korea

The warmth of spring returns to Starbucks stores across South Korea. For a limited time starting March 22, customers can enjoy new and returning seasonal favorites along with beautiful merchandise inspired by cherry blossoms. New and returning beverages include the Midnight Bergamot Cold Brew, Pink Crystal Chamomile Tea, Pine Coco Green Yogurt Blended, and Strawberry […]

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This spring, Starbucks customers in Korea can enjoy three delicious new seasonal beverages at participating stores while supplies last. Made with local strawberries, the Spring Strawberry Milk mixes sweet and tart strawberry sauce with creamy iced milk, while the Spring Strawberry Green Cream Frappuccino® blended beverage pairs sweet strawberry and creamy vanilla with the earthy notes of Korean malcha. In addition, the Spring Garden Jasmine Drink refreshes beautifully with a taste of spring, offering notes of jasmine and thyme.

Sweet spring beverages at Starbucks Korea : Starbucks Stories Asia

Sweet spring beverages at Starbucks Korea

This spring, Starbucks customers in Korea can enjoy three delicious new seasonal beverages made with local ingredients.

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Starbucks today announced the dedication of its latest Community Store in Korea, reaffirming Starbucks commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and expands career opportunities for Starbucks partners (employees) with disabilities. The store opened in December 2020 as a first-of-its-kind Starbucks <a href="https://stories.starbucks.com/asia/stories/2020/starbucks-opens-store-focused-on-inclusive-design-in-south-korea/">store focused on inclusive design</a>, and has been focused on creating an inclusive space and impactful programming to support members of the disability community in Seoul. Now, as a Community Store, a portion of proceeds will go to support the local nonprofit Heart Heart Foundation, which advocates for inclusion and awareness of people with disabilities, and support for local artists from the disability community.

In addition, since the store opened a year ago, Starbucks has continued to work with the Korea Employment Promotion Agency for the Disabled (KEPAD) to hire 75 new partners with disabilities across the organization, creating more opportunities for career growth and development with Starbucks.

“It is very meaningful that our store, which is an inclusive space for all, has been dedicated as a new Community Store for inclusion, furthering disability-inclusion awareness in Korea.” said Elena, assistant store manager, who is hard of hearing. “I feel very proud as a partner. I hope to create meaningful opportunities to build connections through the many activities we will be launching at our store.”

Since entering the market in 1999, Starbucks Coffee Korea has grown rapidly to become Starbucks fourth largest market, with 1,611 stores across 78 cities nationwide. Today, more than 19,700 partners proudly wear the green apron.

Elena, assistant manager, serves a customer at Starbucks third Community Store in Korea

Starbucks newest Community Store in Korea is dedicated to disability inclusion : Starbucks Stories Asia

Starbucks newest Community Store in Korea is dedicated to disability inclusion

Starbucks dedicates third Community Store in Korea, expanding career opportunities for partners with disabilities.

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