South Korean Cafes Struggle with ‘Cagongjok’ as Students Transform Spaces into Day-Long Study Halls

‘Two Laptops, Six Plugs’: The South Korean Cafes Grappling with Students Who Don’t Leave

In the heart of Seoul’s bustling neighborhoods, cafes have always offered a haven for those seeking a break, a caffeine boost, or a quiet spot to catch up with friends. But in recent years, a new phenomenon has swept across South Korea’s café culture—one that is testing the patience of café owners and sparking debate across the country. It’s the rise of the Cagongjok: students and young professionals who transform cafes into makeshift offices or study halls, sometimes for the entire day, armed with multiple devices and a seemingly endless need for power outlets[1][3].

A Day in the Life: Two Laptops and Six Plugs

Hyun Sung-Joo, who runs a café in the affluent Daechi neighborhood of Seoul, describes a scene that has become all too common. “A customer once set up the whole workspace in my café—including two laptops and a six-port power strip to charge all his devices,” he recalls. The setup was so elaborate that Hyun eventually had to cut the power just to get the student to pack up and leave[1][3].

This isn’t an isolated incident. The trend is prevalent in districts teeming with students and office workers, where high rents make every seat precious. Hyun notes, “With Daechi’s high rents, it’s difficult to run a café if someone occupies a seat all day.”[3]

The Cagongjok Phenomenon

The term Cagongjok—roughly meaning “café studying tribe”—captures a generation’s adaptation to the digital age and fierce academic competition. According to a survey by Jinhaksa Catch, more than 70 percent of Gen Z job seekers study in cafes at least once a week, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi, electricity, and relaxed atmosphere[1].

But the trend has reached new extremes. Starbucks Korea, the country’s largest coffee chain, reports that some customers now bring not just laptops but desktop monitors, printers, and even partition off tables to create private workspaces. Some leave their belongings unattended for hours, leading to reported cases of theft and increasing frustration among staff and other patrons[1][3].

The Café Owners’ Dilemma

Running a café in South Korea’s crowded cities is already a high-stakes business, with razor-thin margins and sky-high rents. For owners like Hyun, every seat counts. When even a handful of customers “camp out” from morning until night, it can seriously impact turnover and profits[1][3].

Yet, enforcing time limits or restricting outlet access risks alienating loyal customers. As Hyun points out, “It’s maybe two or three out of a hundred” who abuse the system—most patrons are considerate. But it’s the outliers, with their sprawling setups and marathon stays, who create the biggest headaches[3].

Chains Respond: New Guidelines and Gentle Pushback

In response, Starbucks Korea recently issued new guidelines aimed at curbing the most disruptive behaviors. The chain now discourages customers from bringing in bulky equipment or monopolizing tables with elaborate office setups. Rather than enforcing strict rules, however, staff are instructed to offer “guidance,” balancing the need for a welcoming atmosphere with the realities of running a business[3].

Similar measures are appearing across other popular chains and independent cafes, with some owners physically blocking off power outlets during peak hours. The objective is not to drive away students entirely, but to restore a sense of balance—ensuring that cafes remain spaces for socializing, relaxation, and community, not just silent study halls[1][3].

Public Reaction: Divided Opinions

The public response has been mixed. Some customers welcome the changes, saying that cafés have become too crowded and quiet for casual visits. Others argue that students and job seekers have few alternatives, especially in a country where intense academic pressure and limited public spaces are the norm[3].

There’s also a generational divide. Older patrons, who may remember a more social café culture, lament the rows of silent, screen-lit faces. Younger visitors, meanwhile, insist that cafes are among the few affordable places to focus on work or study, given the scarcity of libraries or co-working spaces in many areas.

The Road Ahead: Balancing Profit and Community

The “two laptops, six plugs” saga illustrates a broader tension in South Korea’s urban life: the challenge of balancing commercial interests with the evolving needs of a hyper-connected generation. As café owners, students, and chains like Starbucks continue to adapt, the hope is that a middle ground can be found—one that preserves both the spirit of the café and its role as a community anchor[1][3][2].

For now, the sight of a single student surrounded by a web of wires and glowing screens remains a symbol of both innovation and inconvenience—a reminder that even in the digital age, public spaces are shaped by the people who use them, for better or worse.

Original source: BBC News – World – ‘Two laptops, six plugs’: The South Korean cafes grappling with students who don’t leave