The former Daejeon government building, which holds significant cultural heritage value, returned to public ownership in May after 52 years, having survived previous threats of demolition. (Image courtesy of Daejeon City)
DAEJEON, Nov. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – The ambitious plan to bring a Starbucks Reserve Roastery to a historic former government building in Daejeon has been scrapped, Mayor Lee Jang-woo announced during a city briefing on November 19.
“We are discontinuing our pursuit of the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and will instead focus on restoring the former Daejeon government building to its original form for public use,” Lee stated.
He cited several factors for the decision, including Starbucks’ minimum two-year decision-making timeline, which conflicted with the city’s restoration plans. Lee also noted declining coffee sales worldwide and Starbucks’ current freeze on expanding its premium roastery locations.
The mayor acknowledged that the high-profile nature of attempting to secure South Korea’s first Starbucks Reserve Roastery had overshadowed the project’s primary goal: preserving and restoring the historic building. “Moving forward, our priority will be restoration while exploring alternative uses for the space,” he said.
The city is now proceeding with its restoration plans while seeking other commercial tenants. The first phase of renovation, which involves removing interior modifications, is already underway. Future plans for the space include exhibition areas for local business brands, galleries focusing on the region’s modern industrial development and urban culture, civic exhibition spaces, and multipurpose halls.
The project’s termination comes just months after an announcement by Lee in July following a trip to the U.S., when he directed officials to prepare a formal proposal for Shinsegae Group, which holds Starbucks’ licensing rights in Korea. The initiative was part of plans for the recently acquired historic building.
The sudden abandonment of the high-profile project has drawn criticism from some quarters. The Democratic Party’s Daejeon chapter released a statement criticizing Lee for rushing into the project without adequate preparation, suggesting the outcome was predictable given the lack of thorough preliminary review.
The former Daejeon government building, which holds significant cultural heritage value, returned to public ownership in May after 52 years, having survived previous threats of demolition.
The structure holds particular historical importance as the first government building constructed after Daejeon’s elevation from town to city status, making it a symbol of the city’s development.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
