Robots serving pizza, coffee and ice cream at new high-tech GS store

A new convenience store called Ground Blue 49 has opened in Seoul's Insa-dong, featuring cutting-edge technology and diverse Korean snacks.

A customer at GS Retail's pop-up store orders ice cream at its "Retail Tech Zone." [GS RETAIL]

A new convenience store, featuring cutting-edge gadgets from cotton candy makers to AI coffee machines, aims to captivate foreign visitors in central Seoul's cultural hub of Insa-dong.

GS Retail announced the opening of the store, dubbed “Ground Blue 49,” at Anyoung Insadong Shopping Mall in Jongno District, central Seoul on Wednesday. The name is derived from its concept, which is modeled after that of a “playground,” GS25's signature color and the mall's postal code.

Spanning 220 square meters (2,368 square feet), Ground Blue 49 includes three zones: a tech section featuring machines, a K-food area offering a variety of Korean snacks and beverages and a space dedicated to Korean noodles. The tech zone, a testing ground for commercializing retail technology, houses automated machines that whip up pizza, coffee, ice cream, cotton candy and photo cards.

The Korean food area offers a diverse range of popular snacks and beverages, including sikhye (rice punch), gim (dried seaweed), banana-flavored milk and pouched coffee. Customers can also find recommendations for pairing these Korean delicacies. At the K-noodle zone , visitors can try out various types of Korean noodles categorized by their spiciness level.

“Ground Blue 49 is a unique space where visitors can experience a variety of services and activities, from cutting-edge retail technology to popular Korean food,” said Kim Cheon-joo, managing director of GS Retail. “We aim to create unforgettable experiences and memories that will make this store a new landmark in Seoul.”

BY LEE HAY-JUNE [yoon.seungjin@joongang.co.kr]