"Where Did My Cup Go?"... Customers Missing for 2 Hours Throw a Tantrum Claiming Their Seats Were Cleared

After Verbal Abuse, Compensation Demands to Cafe Owner
Similar Incidents Occur Once or Twice a Week

A cafe owner shared a story about being verbally abused after clearing cups left by customers who had been away from their seats for two hours while ordering and drinking beverages at the cafe. On the 18th, JTBC's YouTube live show 'News Deureogahyeok' reported the story of cafe owner A, who was verbally abused after tidying up the seats of customers who left the cafe around March.

A cafe owner shared a story about receiving verbal abuse after clearing the cups of customers who had left their seats for two hours while ordering and drinking beverages.
[Photo by JTBC YouTube Live 'News Deureogahyeok']

A, who has been running a cafe in Busan for five years, explained that employee B, working at the cafe, cleared the coffee cups thinking the customers had left since they had been away from their seats for nearly two hours. When the customers returned, they came to the counter and started complaining, saying, "There’s still coffee left, why did you clear our cups?" A said, "They asked, 'Where did our cups go?' but I was too busy at the time, so I pretended not to hear." He added, "It was the employee’s third day at work, and the customers said to the employee, 'That girl isn’t answering,' and 'Hey! Come here, hey girl, come here,'” recounting the situation.

When A explained to the customers, "We cleared the cups because you were gone for too long," the customers raised their voices, saying, "When did I tell you I was leaving? I could come back, right? What if you clear my stuff? I have regulars here, including my older brother and sister-in-law; don’t you know me?" They then demanded compensation from A and the employee, saying, "Don’t you have parents? Aren’t you about the age of our parents? What are you going to do for us?"

Regarding the compensation demand, A said, "I asked, 'What should I do for you?' but did not accept their demands." He explained, "If I said I would make a new drink, then on the days I’m away, the same thing could happen, and the employees might say, 'The owner does it, why don’t you?,' so I couldn’t agree to it." He added, "Similar incidents happen once or twice a week," and lamented, "This is a store where an Americano costs 1,500 won, but when we tell customers 'one drink per person,' some curse and throw the buzzer and leave." He also said, "Many customers order in a rude tone or throw cash or cards down. Selling 1,500 won drinks sometimes makes me think, 'Do they see us as just a 1,500 won store?'"

Netizens responded to the story with comments like, "Wouldn’t anyone think they left after just one hour?" "When you run a small business, all sorts of things happen," and "That cafe owner might have health problems later from stress."