What do you usually do at a café?
Probably grab a coffee or a drink, right?
But in Korea, cafés are much more than just a place to get your caffeine fix.
They’re like second homes — spaces where people meet friends, work remotely, study for exams, and sometimes even take naps.
It’s totally normal to walk into a café and see people set up with laptops, books, and study materials. And they’re not just there for 30 minutes — some stay the entire day.
There’s even a special term for this in Korea: 카공족 (Ka-gong-jok) — meaning “the café study tribe.” These are people who study or work at cafés for long hours.
Some go all out — bringing printers, power strips, and everything they need to turn a café into their personal office. Often, they’ll buy just one drink (maybe $1 to $4) and stay for hours and hours.
It doesn’t stop there.
Some even leave all their stuff — laptops, bags, everything — and head out for lunch or a break for one or two hours, only to return and continue studying for the rest of the day without buying anything more.
From a café owner’s perspective, this can be a real issue. These long-term sitters take up seats and impact business, especially during busy hours.
That’s why even big chains like Starbucks Korea have stepped in.
Some branches now have a rule: if a customer leaves their seat unattended for more than 30 minutes, staff may pack up their belongings and move them aside.
Now you might be wondering — “Wait, you just leave your laptop out in the open? Isn’t that risky?”
Surprisingly, in Korea, not really.
It’s common for people to leave laptops, phones, or bags on the table when they step away — and most of the time, everything is right where they left it when they come back.
Personally, I’ve never really worried about leaving my stuff while I go to the bathroom or take a quick break.
In a way, the 카공족 phenomenon highlights something deeper about Korean society — just how safe and trust-based it is. The fact that people feel comfortable leaving valuable items unattended in public spaces makes it easy for anyone to become a 카공족 themselves.
But still — if you’re in Korea and thinking of joining the café study tribe, just remember: don’t leave your seat for too long at Starbucks… or you might come back to find your stuff neatly packed and waiting for you in the corner!
