300 people line up before dawn for Sejong City's first McDonald's

About 300 people gathered before opening time at Sejong City's first McDonald's on Friday.

McDonald's Korea said the new outlet — McDonald's Sejong DT, located in Bongan-ri, Janggun-myeon — opened at 7 a.m. Friday, with roughly 300 residents already waiting in line before the doors opened.

The store's first customers were two university students in their 20s who had been waiting since 2 a.m. — about five hours before opening.

The pair, Kim Ju-han and Park Ji-yong, were thrilled to be recorded as the first customers. "McDonald's has finally come to Sejong," they said.

The crowds showed no sign of thinning by noon, with customers filling the store inside and out for lunch. The parking lot was full, and a rush of drive-through vehicles backed up traffic roughly 100 meters along the entrance road. Some customers parked farther away and walked to the store.

The two-story outlet spans about 502 square meters and sits at a junction connecting central Sejong City with its outskirts. It features a parking lot with 24 spaces and a drive-through facility. The second floor houses a book cafe developed in partnership with Youngpoong Bookstore, stocked with titles for children from toddlers through upper elementary school age — a deliberate draw for family customers.

McDonald's marked the opening with a series of events. The first 100 visitors on opening day received a tumbler, and the next 50 received a mug. On Wednesday, the chain invited about 50 children from two nearby community child centers for a book quiz and magic show, and donated books to both centers.

McDonald's Korea said it chose Sejong for the new store because of the city's large population of young residents and families — demographics that align closely with its core customer base.

The overwhelming turnout also drew commentary about the shortage of dining and lifestyle amenities in the city, with some observers saying the scene reflected a broader lack of such facilities in the region.

"We decided to open in Sejong because the high concentration of young and family customers is a strong match for McDonald's," the company said. "We are grateful for the strong attention and anticipation our customers have shown."