It has been revealed on the 24th that a man, who reportedly occupies seats for hours at Starbucks locations by erecting partitions on the tables and then leaves, actually exists. After news of this man circulated on social media and then in the press, reactions such as "Isn't this fake news?" and "Could someone really do that?" emerged.
The internet user who posted the first photo related to this man on social media said, "He always reserves seats like this and is never there," adding, "On that day, I never saw him return during the three hours I stayed." The photo showed a table inside a domestic Starbucks location, where a partition was set up alongside a tablet, keyboard, mouse, and headset.
The Starbucks location where this photo was taken is said to be in Mapo-gu, Seoul. When a ChosunBiz reporter visited the location around 3:30 p.m. on the 23rd, the table had a partition along with a tablet, headset, keyboard, and mouse, just as the internet user had shared online. The owner of these items was not visible. Next to the partition was a banana peel that appeared to be ordered from the store. The price of the premium banana sold at Starbucks is 1,500 won.
A woman in her 20s who sat next to him said, "I came around 1 p.m., and there were partitions and people at that time too," adding, "I don't know when he left. At some point, I looked over and noticed he was gone."
A store employee stated, "The problematic customer is presumed to be a man in his 20s," adding, "He started reserving seats a few weeks ago," and noted that he typically comes in the morning to claim a spot.
The man returned to his seat around 5:20 p.m. When asked for an interview by a reporter wearing a black mask, he inquired about the reason. When asked if he was aware of the media reports about him, he responded that he was not. After being asked for an interview again, he declined, saying he had no time. He then watched YouTube on his tablet.
A man in his 50s who was encountered at the Starbucks location said, "It's rare to see cases like that where a customer occupies a seat with a partition because there's no seating available in the café. I don't know what he does for a living, but I don't think this is common sense." In contrast, a housewife in her 40s sitting at another table commented, "I don't think it's an issue unless it causes harm to others. If he wants to sit there after paying, what can we say?"
It is reported that the store has no way to stop this customer. A store employee stated, "Customers who can't find seats or customers near them may express their discomfort, but company policy does not allow us to restrict or ask paying customers to leave, so we are leaving it as is." They added, "We are discussing this issue as complaints continue to come in."
Korean Starbucks has established a policy not to specifically demand or point out issues regarding seat reservations for the convenience of customers using the store, promoting 'the cultural space of the store.' However, a representative from Starbucks headquarters noted, "We can offer separate guidance for situations that may affect customers' experiences in the store."
Meanwhile, in April last year, photos of a customer with a laptop and monitor placed on two tables at a Starbucks also caused controversy when they were shared on social media.
The internet user who posted this photo wrote, with the title 'I came to Starbucks and can't believe my eyes,' asking whether they believe it is fine that the café does not restrict such behavior or if they think this is over the line. However, details about which branch this was taken at and when remain unknown.