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Border mountain to host franchise cafe with panoramic view of North Korea

Published: 20 Mar. 2026, 20:12 Updated: 21 Mar. 2026, 15:22

Visitors enjoy views of North Korea from Starbucks in Gimpo, Gyeonggi, on July 7, 2025. [STARBUCKS KOREA]

Mount Odu, situated just below the inter-Korean border, will host a franchise cafe offering visitors a panoramic view of North Korea's border regions, sources said Friday.

A Twosome Place cafe will begin service on Tuesday on the fourth floor of an observation tower on Mount Odu in the border city of Paju under a three-year contract, the sources said.

Located at the confluence of the South's Han River and the Imjin River flowing from North Korea, the observation tower is the closest point to North Korea open to civilians.

The observation tower is a famous tourist spot, overlooking North Korea's South Hwanghae Province.

Once open, the cafe will offer special menu items featuring the region, such as Peace Set or Unification Set, along with exclusive goods for sale.

In 2024, a Starbucks cafe began service at another observation tower on Aegibong Peak in the border region of Gimpo, becoming a popular tourist destination.

Yonhap