Restaurants
Photo: erik — stock.adobe.com
May 27, 2025
Starbucks is set to break with its long-standing tradition of direct barista-customer interaction by introducing self-service kiosks in Korea and Japan for the first time, according to a Korea JoongAng Daily report.
Starbucks Korea announced Monday it will begin installing kiosks in approximately 10 of its cafes this week as part of a trial program. The initial rollout will focus on stores in tourist and office districts, including locations in Seoul and Jeju Island. The first kiosks will be installed in two Myeong-dong branches in Seoul within the week, with customer use anticipated to begin early next month.
«The number of foreign tourists has increased, and language barriers have made communication difficult, so we developed the kiosks to address this issue,» a Starbucks Korea representative told the news outlet. «We aim to attract foreign demand in tourist areas through the kiosks. Consumers who are uncomfortable with face-to-face ordering may also prefer to use kiosks.»
Concurrently, Starbucks Japan is reportedly introducing kiosks in its stores around the same period, with an expectation that the technology will enhance operational efficiency.