South Korea’s tight office space and growing remote workers have led many to set up extensive workstations at Starbucks, often bringing not just laptops but full desktop setups and printers.
This trend, sometimes called "cagongjok," refers to people who spend extended hours working in cafes. While laptops and smaller personal devices remain allowed, the coffee chain is now putting a ban on larger devices to ensure a more comfortable experience for all customers, according to Fortune.
The new policy was first reported by the Korea Herald and comes amid Starbucks’ efforts to maintain its image as a “welcoming third space," a casual spot between home and work. Starbucks has had a presence in South Korea since 1999 and currently operates more stores there than in Japan, despite South Korea’s smaller population.
Experts note that the rise in prolonged cafe work is tied to broader economic and social shifts. Jo Elfving-Hwang, an associate professor of Korean society and culture, points to the increase in temporary-contract jobs and the boost in remote work since COVID-19. “It’s quite a cheap way to work really,” Elfving-Hwang said. “You can just go and have a cup of coffee, work there—but people are taking it a little bit to the extreme nowadays.”
The strong tearoom culture in Korea also plays a role, as noted by Young-Key Kim-Renaud, professor emeritus of Korean language and culture. Starbucks South Korea, majority owned by retail giant E-Mart since 2021, continues to oversee its licensed business operations in the country while balancing customer loyalty with new space-sharing challenges.
