---
title: "McDonald’s Korea Turns 30"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/c3243155-0726-4cfe-b79f-3bcc90ae2052
source: "Global Franchise"
original_url: https://www.global-franchise.com/news/mcdonalds-korea-turns-30
author: "Global Franchise Team"
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2018-03-29T15:29:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T22:32:58.602Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# McDonald’s Korea Turns 30

**TL;DR:** McDonald's Korea is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having been established in 1988. The company has introduced innovations such as South Korea's first drive-thru in 1992 and has served an estimated 1.9 billion customers over the past ten years.

*By Global Franchise Team, originally published in Global Franchise on 2018-03-29. [Read the original](https://www.global-franchise.com/news/mcdonalds-korea-turns-30).*

## Story

Whatever Kim Jong-Un may think, capitalism thrives just across his border. In South Korea, that emblem of Western business McDonald’s is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Korea. McDonald’s was established there in 1988, the year of the Seoul Summer Olympics, introducing South Korea’s first drive-thru in 1992. It is estimated that over the past ten years, 1.9 billion people have visited an outlet in the country.

Melanie Joo-yeon Joh, managing director of McDonald’s Korea, said “The biggest reason why McDonald’s has been a beloved franchise in Korea for the past 30 years is great love and cheer from our customers. McDonald’s will seek sustainable development as the leading company in Korea’s food services industry and provide the best food and service suiting the various lifestyles and needs of our customers.”

## Entities

- Restaurants (sector)
- Global Franchise (publication)
- international expansion (topic)
- McDonald's (company)
- James Fell (person)
- qsr industry (topic)
- master franchise (topic)
- investment opportunities (topic)
- South Korea (location)
- anniversary (topic)

---
Originally reported by Global Franchise Team, Global Franchise (https://www.global-franchise.com/news/mcdonalds-korea-turns-30). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/c3243155-0726-4cfe-b79f-3bcc90ae2052).