On July 27, 1999, Starbucks landed in Korea with the opening of its first store in front of Ewha Womans University. Initially, there were controversies due to coffee being more expensive than a meal. However, now Starbucks has firmly established itself in Korea.
Especially within a 1km radius of Gwanghwamun Square, it boasts the highest density of Starbucks stores, even more than in New York.
“Starbucks at Gwanghwamun D Tower”
You can also find Starbucks at Gwanghwamun D Tower. The “D Tower” is a complex prime office tower opened in October 2015. From the 1st to the 5th floor, it serves as commercial space, while from the 6th floor and up, it is separated into offices. The building’s impressive appearance resembles stacked boxes.
You can find Starbucks on the 1st floor of D Tower. The entrance can be found at the intersection of Sejong-daero and the entrance to Jongno-gu Office, east of the Sejong-daero intersection. Unlike restaurants in other D Towers, Starbucks has a separate entrance.
“A Two-Floor Café: Starbucks D Tower Branch”
Starbucks D Tower is a two-floor café. The 1st floor has a counter for orders and some seats by the window. On the 2nd floor, there are more seats for a relaxing experience.
The store is relatively elongated, and while not extremely spacious, it might feel a bit crowded during peak hours.
During my visit, after finishing lunch, I came for a takeout order. As Gwanghwamun is a representative area with many office workers, I could see numerous people ordering coffee for takeout.
“Seoul Gwanghwamun: Starbucks D Tower Branch”
- Address: 1st Floor, 17 Jong-ro 3-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
- Phone: 1522-3232
- Operating Hours: (Mon-Fri) 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM, (Sat) 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM, (Sun) 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Website: Starbucks Korea Website