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Starbucks South Korea has a problem — some of its customers are treating the outlets like private office spaces.
The coffee chain has posted notices in its South Korean stores urging patrons not to bring bulky office equipment into the shops, per local news reports.
The notice said items like desktops, printers, extension cords, and desk partitions would not be allowed in its outlets, as reported by Korea’s JoongAng Daily and the Korea Herald.
The notice also told customers to take their belongings with them when leaving their seats for long periods, and to let other customers share tables meant for multiple people.
In response to a request for comment from Business Insider, a Starbucks representative said Starbucks Korea had updated its policy for its customers to “have a pleasant and accessible store experience.”
“While laptops and smaller personal devices are welcome, customers are asked to refrain from bringing desktop computers, printers, or other bulky items that may limit seating and impact the shared space,” the representative said.
She added that Starbucks Korea’s new policy doesn’t involve time limits for customers dining in stores.
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Pictures on social media show customers in South Korea putting up foldable partitions around their work areas in Starbucks stores, making the area inaccessible to other customers.
Starbucks’ new policy comes as a work-from-café trend, known in South Korea as “cagongjok,” has swept the country.
“Cagongjok” translates to people who work or study in cafés for prolonged periods. In Seoul, the trend is fueled by the large number of cafés on every street corner.
South Korea is Starbucks’ third-largest market after the US and China, with more than 2,000 outlets. At the end of 2024, its store count surpassed Japan.
The Seattle-based coffee chain released its third-quarter 2025 earnings on July 29. It reported its sixth straight quarter of sales declines, with global same-store sales down 2% compared to a year ago.
The company’s stock has been down about 18% in the last six months but is flat compared to the start of the year.
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