During peak time, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., they have to wait several minutes to place their orders and then wait again to pick them up.
Some people sometimes leave the queue grumbling to get back to work on time.
Starbucks Coffee Korea unveiled a high-tech "solution" Thursday that could shorten the long waiting time for orders.
It's a smartphone app, called Siren Order. Users of it can place an order and pay their bill remotely. This means the app's users will no longer waste time in a long queue before making an order and payment at the register.
Siren Order is the world's first app of this kind, and is available only at the 643 Starbucks stores in Korea.
Siren Order is named after the likeness of the 16th-century Norse woodcut of the twin-tailed mermaid in the company's logo, according to a Starbucks official.
Having one's name and basic personal information registered on a Starbucks website and buying a pre-paid card is all that is required to use the service.
"Starbucks's success over the past 15 years in Korea has been built on our ability to engage and connect with our customers — one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time," said Lee Seock-koo, president of Starbucks Coffee Korea, in a statement. "We are pleased to be at the forefront of mobile innovation, exceeding the expectations of our customers through innovative and convenient solutions that allow faster ordering and payment of Starbucks offerings using their mobile devices."
Adam Brotman, Starbucks' chief digital officer, said that he will keenly observe the performance of Siren Order in Korea in the hope of introducing the technology to Starbucks outlets in other countries.
Paik Soo-jung, chief marketing officer of Starbucks Korea, is one of the main contributors to the development of the app.
※ 다음에 나오는 문제들은 본 기사에 나오는 중요한 어휘들로 구성된 토익, 토플, 텝스 기출 및 예상 문제입니다.
※ Choose the one word or phrase that best keeps the meaning of the highlighted part or fill in the blank with a suitable one.
1. The prolific novelist is noted for his stylistically innovative works.
① deliberate
② informative
③ disciplined
④ inventive
2. Fresh air is conducive to health.
① contributes to
② conducts
③ takes place
④ consists of
3.Throughout the storm, the safety of the passengers was the captain's paramount concern.
① equal
② chief
③ well-known
④ ready
4. The officials were acutely aware of the problem in the plan.
① accurately
② probably
③ keenly
④ extremely
5. "언제 그 곳에 가시는 게 편리하겠습니까?"의 가장 적절한 영작은?
① When will it be convenient for you to go there?
② When will you go there conveniently?
③ When shall you be convenient to go there?
④ When to go there will be convenient to you?
⑤ When shall be convenient to go for you?
[번역 및 정답]
1. [번역] 그 다작의 소설가는 그의 문체상 혁신적인 작품으로 유명하다.
[정답] ④
2. [번역] 신선한 공기는 건강에 도움이 된다.
[정답] ①
3. [번역] 폭풍우가 몰아치는 동안 내내, 승객들의 안전이 그 선장의 주된 관심사(염려거리)였다.
[정답] ②
4. [번역] 관리들은 그 계획에서의 문제점을 예리하게 인식하고 있었다.
[정답] ③
5. [해설] [1] convenient는 사람을 주어로 사용하지 못하므로 ③번은 제외된다.
[2] 부정사의 의미상의 주어는 for you이며 부정사 앞에 둔다.
[3] convenient는 가주어, 진주어 구문에서 사용하는 것이 일반적이다.
[4] 의문사(when)를 문두에 두어야 하며 직접의문문인 이상 도치가 되어야 한다.
[정답] ①