Leave Your Printers at Home: Starbucks Korea Cracks Down on Cafe Offices

In most countries and regions, Starbucks does not restrict customers from bringing laptops, tablets, or other devices to work or study inside its cafes. In fact, Starbucks often provides power outlets beneath seats so patrons can charge their laptops or mobile devices.

Recently, however, Starbucks Korea implemented a new policy prohibiting customers from bringing large items into its stores, aiming to prevent such objects from occupying excessive seating or even entire sections of the cafe. These large items include desktop computers, printers, and similar equipment.

In South Korea, where commercial office rents are notoriously high — with prime Seoul offices commanding up to $30 per square meter per month — cafes such as Starbucks have become a “second office” for many young professionals who work or study remotely.

While bringing a laptop or mobile device is generally unproblematic, some customers have gone so far as to transport small printers and full desktop setups into Starbucks, complete with keyboards and mice, effectively creating a fully equipped office inside the cafe.

According to Korean media, such cases are far from rare. Some patrons monopolize multiple seats, connect to power outlets, remain for extended periods, print documents, and even conduct video conferences, leading to frequent complaints from other customers about disruptions to their dining experience.

In response, Starbucks Korea introduced the new policy in early August 2025, posting notices at store entrances explicitly banning large items that could limit seating or impact the shared environment. Employees have been granted the authority to remind and address violations.

The company emphasized that the policy does not target laptops or small devices. Starbucks Korea reiterated that its locations remain welcoming spaces for work and study, but stressed that the rule is intended to prevent cafes from becoming full-fledged offices at the expense of other guests.

In an interview, Starbucks’ headquarters echoed this sentiment, stating that the policy aims to preserve the comfort of shared spaces. While small devices like laptops are welcome, large office equipment that could occupy excessive space or inconvenience others is prohibited.

South Korea’s work culture is renowned for its intensity and long hours, with the average workweek exceeding 52 hours — well above the OECD average. This high-pressure ethos extends to education, where students endure immense exam preparation demands, often studying for hours in cafes.

Following the pandemic, economic pressures and the rise of remote work have driven even more young people to work and study in public spaces like coffee shops — a trend that, in extreme cases, has led to the surreal sight of desktop computers and printers appearing in Starbucks.

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