Controversy Over 'Kagongjok' Expands for Bringing Outside Food and Even Sleeping
Crossing the Line
The controversy over so-called 'Kagongjok' has reignited as customers who brought in food from other stores used a cafe for over 9 hours. Kagongjok refers to those who stay in cafes for long hours to study or work. There are ongoing criticisms that some Kagongjok's excessive use of seats harms the business's sales and turnover rate.
On the 15th, a story from cafe owner A was posted on the self-employed community 'Apeunikka Sajangida'. A said, "Due to COVID-19, we couldn't operate at night, but after a few months, we managed to hire staff and resumed operations," starting the story.
He added, "Although the atmosphere isn't as lively as before, most students are well-behaved and polite," but also said, "However, there was a student who was so outrageous that I am angry and feel wronged, so I am posting this."
Pouring a beverage bought from another store into a cup inside the cafe. [Image source=Online community 'Apeunikka Sajangida']
According to A, around 11 p.m. the previous day, two female students entered the cafe. The maximum usage time at A's cafe is 8 hours, but they continued to occupy their seats even past 8:30 a.m. the next day.
A said, "They even took turns lying down on fixed chairs and sleeping," and "When I told them they exceeded the 8-hour usage time, they laughed loudly saying, 'Hey, let's go out,' in a mocking tone."
They brought in food purchased outside to have their meals, and when leaving the cafe, they did not clean up the leftover food, A added. Also, CCTV footage confirmed that during the early morning hours, for about 40 minutes, they brought drinks from another cafe and poured them into cups from A's store.
A expressed frustration, saying, "Do I have to dig the ground to pay for night staff wages, management fees, and rent?" and "I feel so frustrated and angry."
The 'Kagongjok controversy' is not a new issue. It is common for customers to study or work for long hours in cafes, but self-employed business owners point out that some customers' behavior has crossed the line. On the 7th, controversy arose when a customer tried to bring a 'printer machine' to a cafe to use.
There is an increasing number of cafes that prohibit studying or working inside, as well as blocking power outlets and Wi-Fi. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Especially recently, with heating and electricity costs rising consecutively, the tension between cafes and Kagongjok has intensified. Recently, some cafes prohibit the use of facilities unless customers order drinks or food first, or even block power outlets and Wi-Fi. There are even cafes that repeatedly play loud music to prevent Kagongjok from concentrating on their work.
The Time for a 4,100 Won Coffee - Break-even Point is 1 Hour 42 Minutes
So, what is the 'maximum usage time' that does not harm a cafe's turnover and profit? According to a 2019 August survey by the Korea Foodservice Industry Research Institute, the break-even point for a customer who buys a 4,100 won coffee was found to be 1 hour 42 minutes.
This figure is based on the average sales of non-franchise cafes, assuming △ 8 tables △ 29% takeout rate △ 12 hours of daily operation. In other words, customers who order one drink and stay seated for more than 3 to 4 hours cause losses to the business's sales and turnover.
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