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A New York-born ice cream brand favored by global celebrities is set to make its debut in Korea this summer in Seoul’s Gangnam District, as premium dessert competition intensifies in one of Asia’s most closely watched food retail markets. A Twosome Place, the Korea-based cafe operator, said Tuesday that it will officially launch Van Leeuwen in Korea and open its first store near Gangnam Station, a major transit and commercial hub served by Subway Line 2 and the Shinbundang Line. The brand, founded in 2008 as a yellow ice cream truck in New York, has built its reputation on a “less is more” philosophy centered on high-quality ingredients and French-style ice cream enriched with extra egg yolks. Van Leeuwen said its signature vanilla bean flavor uses Madagascar bourbon vanilla and has been widely praised in the United States as one of the best versions of the classic flavor. Other offerings planned for the Korea launch include Sicilian pistachio made with nuts grown near Mount Etna and Earl Grey tea ice cream infused with bergamot and cream. The company said it avoids artificial add