South Korea’s Unique Cafe Culture: Leaving Bags Unattended for Hours?

In a recent incident at a Seoul Starbucks, a group of flight attendants sparked conversation after they entered the bustling cafe, placed their bags to claim almost all available seating, ordered their drinks, and then promptly left – leaving their belongings behind. Hours later, they returned to retrieve their bags, which, to many people’s surprise, were still exactly where they had left them, completely untouched. According to a Starbucks employee, this wasn’t an isolated event; it was the fourth or fifth time this had happened recently at that particular location. The repeated seat-claiming tactics eventually led to other potential customers leaving the store due to a lack of available seating. What seemed like a minor disturbance quickly escalated, drawing significant attention from local news outlets. A YouTube video detailing the incident rapidly accumulated over a million views, sparking widespread criticism of the airline employees for hogging cafe space without actually being present. Notably, the torrent of comments focused solely on the etiquette of reserving seats, with virtually no one expressing concern for the safety or security of the unattended bags. This reaction highlights a unique aspect of South Korean culture: a profound sense of trust and public safety, fostered by exceptionally low crime rates and extensive surveillance. Indeed, it’s a common practice across South Korea for individuals to temporarily leave their personal items at a table or seat to signal that it’s occupied, whether in a cafe, restaurant, or other public venue. During a recent lunchtime stroll through downtown Seoul, a reporter observed this phenomenon firsthand. Nearly twenty cafes displayed at least one table adorned with unattended belongings. High-value items like a Gucci bag near an entrance, a Marni purse on a window-facing table, and numerous smartphones, laptops, and jackets casually scattered across seats were all left without a guardian. This atmosphere of security is largely attributed to South Korea’s heavy reliance on public video surveillance. Government data indicates a dramatic increase in CCTV cameras in public spaces, soaring from fewer than 200,000 in 2008 to almost two million by 2024. This extensive surveillance has correlated with a significant drop in theft, with government data revealing a one-third decrease in the past decade, even as other forms of crime, like cybercrime, have unfortunately risen. Kim Lee-jung, a Seoul-based office worker, confirmed this cultural norm, stating that he routinely leaves his items to reserve a spot at coffee shops. “The idea of my belongings being stolen has simply never crossed my mind,” he remarked. “It just feels completely normal to leave them.” While Starbucks and many other South Korean establishments don’t forbid customers from leaving personal items to hold seats, they do maintain policies against overly large items like desktop monitors or printers. Staff can also intervene if customers are causing disturbances. The flight attendants, for instance, were eventually asked to leave, not for abandoning their bags, but because their prolonged absence with reserved seating was actively deterring other patrons, according to the company. Asiana Airlines, the employer of the flight attendants, issued an apology, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to Starbucks and other customers. An airline spokeswoman clarified that the attendants had temporarily left the cafe to attend mandatory visa interviews at the nearby U.S. Embassy, where strict security protocols prohibit large bags. On a subsequent Thursday morning visit, the specific Starbucks in Gwanghamun Square that was at the center of the controversy appeared to be relatively quiet. Han Min Kyung, a criminology professor at Korean National Police University, suggested that while South Koreans might sacrifice some privacy due to pervasive surveillance, this trade-off is precisely what makes the country remarkably safe. “In how many other nations can women confidently walk alone at night without the constant fear of serious crime?” she questioned, emphasizing the tangible benefits of their unique societal trust.