"30 People Waiting, Chatting for 30 Minutes After Meal... What Should We Do?"

"A Store Surviving on Low Prices and Table Turnover"
Inconsiderate Behavior VS Customer Rights... Conflicting Netizen Reactions

A post by a self-employed business owner struggling with whether to ask customers who chat for 30 minutes after dining at a restaurant with a waiting list to leave has become a hot topic.

On the 31st of last month, a post titled "Chatting after dining at a restaurant without leaving" was uploaded to an online community. The author began by explaining that the restaurant has about 30 to 40 people waiting during lunchtime, and since the menu prices are not high, they operate the business by relying on table turnover.

On the 21st, citizens and foreigners are lining up to eat in front of a Samgyetang restaurant in Seoul. This is an unrelated stock photo.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

They continued, "Three women finished their meal and then stayed to talk for quite a while, chatting for about 30 minutes. There are 30 to 40 customers waiting behind them. When a staff member asked, 'Have you finished your meal?' they left," and asked, "Is this the customers' natural right or is it a nuisance?"

Netizens' reactions to the post were divided. Most netizens responded negatively to chatting after meals, saying things like "If you're a reasonable person, unless it's a spacious restaurant, you get up after finishing your meal when you see a waiting line. That's just human decency," and "It's not about consideration for the restaurant but for the people waiting behind you; once you've eaten, you should get up."

However, some argued, "If that's a nuisance, then the restaurant owner running a business in a small space is also a nuisance, and customers waiting outside pressuring those inside are nuisances too. Within the bounds of the law, you shouldn't infringe on others' freedom," and "Leaving quickly is considerate, but I don't think it's an obligation. They should implement a dining time limit or something."

Among these, one netizen shared advice based on their own experience. They said, "When I used to run a business, in such cases, I would quietly approach and ask, 'If you've finished your meal, may I clear the plates first?' Ninety percent would say they're about to leave and then leave. The remaining ten percent would cause trouble. They are always angry. If they snap at you, don't get shaken and respond in the same tone, 'You can stay seated, but if I clear the plates, I can seat the waiting customers a little faster,' and most of them leave."

They added, "Some people shout. Never get angry with them. Just give them a look that says, 'Why are you shouting?' and say, 'There are other customers as well, so please don't shout like that.' Other customers will then reprimand the troublemaker. When the place is full, among 6 to 7 groups, there is usually one righteous person. If one group steps up, others will help deal with the villain here and there. Then you can offer those people a complimentary drink."