Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Downtown Starbucks taken over by suitcases, leaving customers with nowhere to sit

Suitcases, not customers, have recently been claiming most of the seats at a Starbucks near the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul's Gwanghwamun area.

2026-02-10

Low-cost coffee chain The Venti opens 1st outlet in Middle East

SNC Sein, the operator of the Korean low-cost coffee brand The Venti, said on Tuesday that it has opened its first outlet in the Middle East as part of its overseas expansion strategy.

2026-02-03

Tim Hortons dismisses exit rumors, plans 50 new stores in Korea

Canadian coffeehouse chain Tim Hortons plans to open 50 additional stores in Korea by the end of the year, pushing back against early speculation that it was preparing to exit or scale down in the market.

2026-01-28

This cafe takes orders in sign language. It's cherished by the Deaf community

An Oregon cafe that takes orders in sign language has become a cherished space for the Deaf community, providing a unique gathering place as well as employment for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

2026-01-06

North Korean cafe offers Labubus to customers who spend $100

A cafe in North Korea's Pyongyang — that appears to have copied Starbucks' interior design — has drawn attention for its punch card: Spend $100, and get a Labubu doll.

2025-11-28

Low-cost coffee chain The Venti to enter U.S. market

SNC Sein, the operator of low-cost coffee brand The Venti, said Monday it will enter the United States next year by opening its first local outlet in Las Vegas. Earlier this month, SNC Sein signed a multiunit franchise agreement with JINP.

2025-11-17

Samsung Electronics chairman goes viral after giving worker $35 cash tip for free coffee

A story about a cafe worker who said Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong gave her a cash tip during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, has gone viral online.

2025-11-03

Human rights watchdog investigates Seoul cafe for racist message

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea is investigating a cafe in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, for posting a message saying it would not serve Chinese customers.

2025-11-03

At hanok cafes off Gyeongju's beaten path, modern sophistication meets tradition

It's easy to stumble upon a photogenic hanok cafe sitting beneath giwa (traditional roof tiles) in Gyeongju — a city where even gas stations and Starbucks wear hanok-style roofs.

2025-10-29

Cafe near Seoul Forest sparks controversy after banning Chinese customers

A cafe near Seoul Forest, one of the city’s popular tourist spots, has sparked controversy after posting a notice banning Chinese customers, prompting the local district chief to say he would try to persuade the business to withdraw the ban.

2025-10-28