Leave your offices at home: Starbucks draws line at desktops in South Korea








 

Starbucks Korea is telling customers to leave their offices at home.

The company has banned the use of desktop computers, printers, power strips and large partitions in its cafes.

On Aug 7, Starbucks confirmed it has posted new notices in every branch across the country. The signs also ask customers to take their belongings along when leaving for long periods and to make room at shared tables so that others can sit.

The move targets a small but persistent group of clients known as cagongjok. The term blends the Korean words for cafe and study tribe. It refers to people who work or study for hours in coffee shops.

Most use only laptops. But Starbucks says some have been setting up large monitors and printers.

Photos of these elaborate set-ups have spread widely on Korean online forums. In some cases, printers were placed on nearby chairs, preventing others from using them. A few customers even brought in partitions to turn tables into private booths.

A Starbucks Korea spokesperson said the decision was made to keep stores comfortable for all visitors. The company also cited the risk of theft or loss when belongings are left unattended.

Source :  https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/leave-your-offices-at-home-starbucks-draws-the-line-at-desktops-in-south-korea

Comprehension

Which items are now banned in Starbucks cafes in Korea?
What does the new notice also ask customers to do when leaving for long periods?
Who are the “cagongjok”?
What equipment do most cagongjok usually use?
What extra devices have some people brought into cafes besides laptops?
What do some customers use to create private booths?
Why did Starbucks decide to make these new rules?
What risk did the company mention besides comfort?
When did Starbucks confirm the posting of the new notices?
Where have photos of these elaborate setups been shared?

Discussion

Do you like studying or working in cafes? Why or why not?
Should customers be allowed to stay in cafes for many hours if they buy only one drink?
How do you feel about people bringing large equipment into public spaces?
Have you ever seen someone “take over” a public space? What happened?
What rules do you think cafes should have to keep things fair for all customers?
Do you think banning large partitions is a good idea? Why or why not?
How would you feel if someone left their belongings on a table for hours while you couldn’t find a seat?
What’s more important in a cafe—comfort or freedom for customers to set up as they like?
If you were the cafe manager, how would you deal with the cagongjok?
Is there a better way to balance the needs of long-stay customers and new customers?

Vocabulary

Banned = Not allowed.
Partition = A divider that separates one space from another.
Belongings = Personal items or things you own.
Persistent = Continuing for a long time without stopping.
Tribe = A group of people with something in common.
Elaborate = Complicated and detailed.
Set-up = An arrangement of equipment or furniture.
Spokesperson = A person who speaks for a company or group.
Cited = Mentioned something as a reason.
Unattended = Left alone without anyone watching.