Starbucks first opens in South Korea in 1999, and like KFC in China, they were first in market entry. Seoul now has more Starbucks than NYC.
In Korea, Starbucks symbolizes luxury, privilege, and posh. Carrying a cup of Starbucks is like carrying Chanel 2.55. They generated $470 million in sales, surpassing Cafe Bene, their biggest competitor.