There Was a Reason for Starbucks’ Ban on Certain Items... The Worst Type of Kagongjok Revealed

"Leaving seats unattended for a long time" ranked as the top example of poor cafe etiquette
Followed by "talking loudly on the phone" and "staying for a long time with just one drink"

Starbucks Korea has recently moved to restrict the use of printers, partitions, and power strips in its stores, targeting so-called "Kagongjok"?customers who stay for extended periods to study or work. In the midst of these new measures, a survey has found that the "worst type of Kagongjok" is considered to be those who leave their seats unattended for long periods.

"Leaving belongings to reserve seats for a long time"... Ranked as the top example of poor cafe etiquette

At a Starbucks store in Korea, a customer is using two tables for personal work, carrying all kinds of personal equipment such as a computer monitor and a laptop. X

On August 8, job platform Jinhaksa Catch surveyed 2,037 Generation Z job seekers about their "frequency of studying in cafes." The results showed that 70% of respondents visit a cafe to study at least once a week. Among them, 10% said they go to a cafe five or more times a week, 27% said less than once a week, and 3% said they do not use cafes at all.

The main reasons for visiting cafes (multiple responses allowed) were: "because I can concentrate better" (58%), "it feels less stifling than home or a study room" (38%), "I like the atmosphere" (22%), "I get motivated by people around me" (12%), "the heating and cooling make it comfortable" (11%), and "the convenience facilities such as electricity and Wi-Fi are good" (7%).

When asked which type of Kagongjok they considered the most inconsiderate, "leaving belongings to reserve a seat for a long time" ranked first at 29%. This was followed by "talking or making phone calls loudly" at 25%, and "staying for a long time with just one drink" at 17%. Other responses included: excessive demands for silence or seat changes (9%), monopolizing seats or power outlets (8%), bringing in outside food (6%), and excessive use of electronic devices (5%).

Ongoing controversy over "inconsiderate Kagongjok"... From printers to personal partitions

A customer carrying a printer was spotted at a Starbucks store in Andong, Gyeongbuk. Online community

Recently, debates have continued over Kagongjok who occupy two or three seats alone or stay for long periods after ordering only one drink to study or work on personal tasks.

In particular, online communities have posted photos of extreme Kagongjok behaviors, such as setting up personal partitions on tables meant for multiple people, installing laptops, headsets, and tablets, or even bringing a printer from home to plug in and print documents?actions that have drawn criticism for crossing the line.

Starbucks Korea takes action against "inconsiderate Kagongjok"

Starbucks Store Usage Guide. Starbucks Korea

In response, Starbucks Korea has decided to restrict behaviors that may inconvenience other customers. As of August 6, personal desktop computers, printers, power strips, and partitions are not allowed in domestic Starbucks stores. Customers must also take their belongings with them when leaving their seats for long periods, and monopolizing tables meant for multiple people is also prohibited.

This is the first time a franchise coffee chain has officially announced measures to regulate Kagongjok. Attention is now focused on whether this trend will spread to other franchise coffee chains.