Oasis Seoul Officially Opens... Over 1,000 Stores Including Cafes and Restaurants Participate

Service Starts from the 15th, Free Drinking Water Provided with Personal Cup Even Without Purchase
1017 Stores Including Cafes and Restaurants Participating... All 603 Starbucks Stores in Seoul Region Participating

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 14th that it will launch the ‘Oasis Seoul Project,’ which provides free drinking water to those who bring personal cups such as tumblers without ordering drinks or food at cafes and restaurants. A total of 1,017 stores in Seoul will participate.

Seoul conceived the Oasis Seoul Project as part of its heatwave countermeasures. The aim is to prevent heat-related illnesses among outdoor workers such as citizens, tourists, delivery workers, and couriers, and to reduce single-use plastics by promoting the habitual use of tumblers.

Since recruitment began at the end of June, a total of 1,017 stores have expressed their intention to participate. These include 734 stores from nine cafe franchises such as Starbucks, Twosome Place, Tous Les Jours, Coffine Gurunaru, and Gamseong Coffee, 216 food establishments including snack bars and gukbap restaurants, and 67 other locations.

Citizens have shown positive responses to the Oasis Seoul Project on online communities, describing it as an ‘environmentally friendly project,’ saying ‘it reduces both the cost of purchasing bottled water and the burden of plastic waste,’ and calling it a ‘good initiative to protect the environment by reducing plastic use.’

Citizens can visit stores with the Oasis sticker while bringing their tumblers to fill with drinking water. Participating stores can also be checked on the ‘Smart Seoul Map.’ Since this service is voluntarily participated in by cafes and restaurants, the city asked users to use it cleanly, take only as much as they will drink, and refrain from using it during busy times, emphasizing etiquette when using the stores.

The city plans to continue accepting applications from participating restaurants until August 31. Cafes and restaurants wishing to participate can search for ‘Oasis Seoul Project’ on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website or scan the QR code to fill out an online application form. Participation is also possible at the franchise or association level by applying separately to the Seoul Environmental Policy Division.

Yoo Yeon-sik, Head of the Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, “We thank the small business owners, companies, and citizens who have participated in the Oasis Seoul Project,” and added, “Seoul will continue to promote various activities to respond to the climate crisis through the spread of good influence based on sharing and consideration.”

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