For coffee lovers traveling through Korea,

Gangneung, the coffee city of South Korea, is a beautiful place.

Italy, Japan, and Seattle, USA have something in common. They all love coffee, and they all have their own coffee. From Italy, where espresso originated, to Japan, where making coffee is like brewing tea, to Seattle, where the world's largest barista event is held.

And there are similar cities in Korea.

Gangneung,

In Gangneung, there is a tea-related site (Hansongjeong) that was built when the country of Silla was located in what is now Korea. The city has a long tradition of loving tea.

In the early 1980s, more than 50 coffee vending machines were installed on Anmok Beach in Gangneung, making the beach a “coffee shop by the sea.” Each vending machine had different proportions of beans, prime, and sugar, so each person could find their favorite coffee. Searching for the most delicious coffee vending machine was a date course for lovers at that time.

It was also partly due to the fact that Korea's first-generation barista, Mr. Park Yi-chu, settled in Gangneung around 2000. People flocked to Gangneung once again to taste the coffee of a barista who was already famous in Seoul.

Bohemian by Park Yi-chu, Terrarosa by Kim Yong-duk, and many other coffee shops followed their lead, each roasting and serving their own beans with their own personalities, and they set the stage for Gangneung to become a coffee city.

In 2009, Gangneung became the first local government in Korea to hold the Gangneung Coffee Festival, and since then, the city has created various coffee contents such as a coffee museum, a coffee park, and a barista academy. In addition, the city has created coffee streets all along the coastline, and the number of coffee shops per 10,000 people is the highest in the country.

Competition is good for consumers. With unique bean blends, roasting methods, and “water” that adds a bit of flavor, the price of a cup of coffee is lower than expected.

If you're a foodie, Seoul is a great place to visit at least once, but the cool ocean breeze and the view will make you forget about the long wait.

The KTX between Seoul and Gangneung, which opened during the Pyeongchang Olympics, has made it even easier to get from Seoul to Gangneung.

It used to be a difficult place to visit from abroad, but not anymore. Bohemian Park Yichu Coffee and Terra Rosa Coffee Factory Gangneung are two of the best cafes to visit when you're in Korea and in Gangneung, and they're not far from the KTX Gangneung Station. As long as you have a transportation card, you can easily get there.

As long as you bring light outerwear that can withstand the envy of the sea breeze, Gangneung will be a very attractive city for you.

We hope this article was useful for those who love food, coffee, and traveling.