Imagine walking into a bustling coffee shop, only to find most of the tables “occupied” by unattended bags. This isn’t an uncommon sight in South Korea, and a recent incident at a Seoul Starbucks brought this unique cultural norm into the spotlight.
A group of flight attendants recently left their luggage scattered across nearly all the available seating in a Starbucks, then departed after picking up their drinks. Hours later, they returned to find their bags exactly where they’d left them, completely untouched.
This had reportedly happened several times before at this particular store. The result? Other customers, searching for a place to sit, eventually gave up and left because there was simply no space.
This seemingly minor event quickly gained traction in local news, with one online report accumulating over a million views. The vast majority of comments criticized the airline employees for monopolizing the space for so long without being present, rather than expressing any concern about the security of the unattended items.
This reaction highlights a defining aspect of South Korean society: a profound sense of trust and safety in public environments. This culture is fostered by remarkably low crime rates and extensive public surveillance.
It’s incredibly common for South Koreans to reserve seats in cafes and restaurants using their personal belongings. During a recent lunch rush in downtown Seoul, many cafes featured tables adorned with unattended items – a designer handbag near the entrance, a luxury purse by a window, and numerous smartphones, laptops, and jackets left casually on seats.
The nation’s reliance on video surveillance is significant. Since 2008, the number of CCTV cameras in public spaces has soared from under 200,000 to nearly two million by 2024, according to government statistics. Concurrently, the number of thefts has plummeted by a third over the past decade, even as other criminal activities like cybercrimes have risen.
Kim Lee-jung, a Seoul office worker, shared a common sentiment: “The thought of having my stuff stolen has never occurred to me. It feels natural to just leave it.”
Starbucks, like many food establishments in South Korea, doesn’t forbid customers from leaving their items to claim a spot. However, the company does reserve the right for its staff to ask customers to leave if they are disruptive or, as in the case of the flight attendants, monopolizing space to the detriment of other patrons. Asiana Airlines, the attendants’ employer, publicly apologized, explaining that their employees needed to attend visa interviews at a nearby embassy where large bags are not allowed.
While South Koreans may have implicitly accepted a degree of public monitoring, it contributes to an exceptionally safe environment. Han Min Kyung, a criminology professor at Korean National Police University, emphasized this point: “Women can walk outside at night without having to fear major crime. I wonder in how many countries we can do that.”