{"id":2201221,"date":"2023-05-31T20:47:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-31T11:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201221"},"modified":"2023-06-01T19:44:25","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T10:44:25","slug":"why-ill-will-is-brewing-between-south-korean-students-and-cafes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/05\/why-ill-will-is-brewing-between-south-korean-students-and-cafes\/","title":{"rendered":"Why ill will is brewing between South Korean students and cafes"},"content":{"rendered":"
People typing loudly on their laptops, students watching online lectures and university students studying for exams are common sights when one steps into South Korea\u2019s bustling cafes.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike in other countries where people usually go to cafes to chat and socialize, South Korean cafes are frequently patronized by university students to study. As a result, a special term has been coined to refer to this particular demographic who camp out at cafes for hours \u2014 \u201ccagongjok\u201d (\uce74\uacf5\uc871), a portmanteau of Korean words meaning \u201ccafe-study tribe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The cagongjok\u2019 presence in cafes has become more prominent, particularly in the wake of the <\/span>pandemic<\/span><\/a> that propelled a swift pivot from in-person to remote learning and work.<\/span><\/p>\n University students, who form the majority of cagongjok, often claim an affinity for the <\/span>ambiance<\/span><\/a> of cafes, a distinct departure from the silence echoing in campus libraries.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA campus library, while peaceful, can be too quiet, whereas a cafe hits the sweet spot of noise level aiding my concentration,\u201d Oh Kyung-hee, a third-year student from Sookmyung Women\u2019s University told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the flexibility that cafes offer, unlike the constraints of most university libraries, attracts these students. The ability to use their laptops or freely take phone calls without having to worry about disturbing other students holds a wide appeal.<\/span><\/p>\n Recognizing cagongjok as a valuable customer base, large franchise coffee chains like <\/span>Starbucks<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Hollys Coffee<\/span><\/a> have catered to them, allocating quiet sections to accommodate their study-focused clientele.<\/span><\/p>\n Yet this cultural shift is not universally lauded. For proprietors of smaller, independent cafes, the sight of cagongjok, who typically nurse a single beverage over an extended period, is less than welcome.<\/span><\/p>\n As cagongjok have evolved into a ubiquitous element of cafe culture in South Korea, their presence has stirred a <\/span>national debate<\/span><\/a>, as many cafe owners whose business model hinges on <\/span>quick customer turnover<\/span><\/a> argue that this trend is eating into their profits.<\/span><\/p>\n Some cafe owners have adopted <\/span>unusual tactics<\/span><\/a> in an attempt to disperse the studying crowds. Strategies include severing Wi-Fi connections, blocking electrical outlets, deliberately playing loud music and even introducing explicit <\/span>\u201cno-study\u201d zones<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Owners are also turning to online platforms to share <\/span>tips<\/span><\/a> aimed at deterring cagongjok.<\/span><\/p>\n