Starbucks Opens 'Seoul National University Dental Hospital Branch'... A Space for Employing People with Disabilities and Raising Awareness

Goal of Realizing Social Value through Active Employment of Persons with Disabilities and Promotion of Awareness Improvement

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Starbucks Coffee Korea announced on the 3rd that it has opened the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store,’ a store dedicated to promoting employment for people with disabilities and raising awareness on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, aiming to create a third space free of prejudice where everyone is welcome.

The ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store’ is located on the first floor of the Central Disability Oral Care Center at Seoul National University Dental Hospital, which was designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in March 2018. This store is the first in Korea for Starbucks to realize social value through promoting employment for people with disabilities and raising awareness in collaboration with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Seoul National University Dental Hospital.

To concretely realize this, Starbucks will donate a portion of the profits from the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store’ to the Central Disability Oral Care Center at Seoul National University Dental Hospital to support dental surgery costs for low-income people with disabilities.

Additionally, the store operates with an employment rate of people with disabilities exceeding 50%, leading efforts in raising awareness and prejudice-free hiring through active employment of partners with disabilities. Among the 12 partners working at the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store,’ 6 are partners with disabilities, representing more than half, and partners with disabilities at various levels actively contribute in their respective roles.

Before the store opened, the partners at the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store’ received systematic customized training to create a genuine third space, including basic sign language education for smooth communication with hearing-impaired customers and disability awareness training supported by the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

Furthermore, Starbucks will actively conduct year-round campaign activities to raise awareness of disabilities in cooperation with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Depending on the COVID-19 situation, coffee seminars for customers conducted by partners with disabilities at the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store’ will be operated, and content related to the mandatory employment system for people with disabilities and disability awareness will be continuously broadcast through digital community boards installed in the store, expanding related campaign activities.

The ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store’ is the first Starbucks store worldwide to apply inclusive design in its interior so that anyone can easily use the space regardless of disability. Notably, from the concept development stage to store design, environment, and operational testing, the opinions of partners with disabilities currently working at Starbucks were reflected in all aspects of the store, considering the convenience of both customers visiting the store and partners working there.

The store provides a Braille menu and a tactile map made with Braille and relief placed in front of the store entrance, and Braille guide signs are installed throughout the store at ordering counters, beverage pickup areas, and condiment bars to accommodate the movement and use of the store by visually impaired customers. Additionally, a dual-facing POS system allows customers to directly confirm their orders, and a mobile POS using tablets is applied for customers with mobility difficulties. A CND (Calling Name Display) digital board displaying customers’ order numbers is installed to facilitate easy pickup of ordered items.

Moreover, the store environment is designed to accommodate wheelchair users and future partners who use wheelchairs. Wheelchair-friendly seating is provided in some areas, space under the bar is secured for easy wheelchair access when ordering and picking up drinks, and sufficient movement space is ensured throughout the store?including the bar, back room, and floor?to facilitate mobility for partners using wheelchairs.

A special artwork made by recycling coffee grounds collected from Starbucks stores is installed on the store wall. The artwork, featuring the phrase ‘TOGETHER,’ symbolizes a space everyone can enjoy together, and its meaning is enhanced by the direct participation of Starbucks partners in its creation.

Through continuous expert consultation and cooperation with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Starbucks will continue to expand and implement activities to raise awareness, provide support services to expand employment of people with disabilities, and enhance convenience facilities for customers and partners with disabilities at the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store,’ continuously creating a space where everyone is welcome.

Jo Jong-ran, President of the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities, said, “Congratulations on the opening of Starbucks’ ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store,’ which consistently practices employment of people with disabilities,” and added, “The agency will do its best to support Starbucks in realizing social value through employment of people with disabilities.”

Gu Young, Director of Seoul National University Dental Hospital, said, “We are very pleased that such a meaningful store has opened at Seoul National University Dental Hospital, which is leading efforts to lower the barriers to dental care for people with disabilities and improve oral health levels,” and stated, “We will continue to cooperate with Starbucks and the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities to realize a happy life for people with disabilities and create an inclusive society together.”

Song Ho-seop, CEO of Starbucks Korea, said, “The opening of the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store’ for raising awareness of disabilities is an important moment that is attracting attention not only in Korea but worldwide, reflecting Starbucks’ mission and values focused on coexisting and growing with local communities,” and added, “We will do our best to realize a true third space where everyone is welcome through various awareness messages and campaigns delivered at the ‘Seoul National University Dental Hospital Store.’”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.