A Starbucks store near the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun filled with flight attendants’ bags. (Photo courtesy of a reader)
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — On recent mornings near the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun, a Starbucks has found itself at the center of what staff describe as a daily “bag war.”
By 7 a.m. on Monday, roughly 80 percent of the seating area — some 30 to 40 chairs — was occupied not by customers, but by travel bags. Their owners, a group of new flight attendants from a Korean carrier, had left the café to attend visa interviews at the embassy, using the shop as a temporary storage site.
“They come in as a group of about 30, order five to ten drinks, leave their bags and go,” the store manager said in an interview. “They return about two hours later after the interviews are over.” Staff members say similar scenes have unfolded at least five times in recent weeks.
When asked to clear the seats for other customers, some attendants objected, saying they had placed orders. Witnesses described tense exchanges between employees and the group, noting that the absence of people — and the rows of unattended luggage — amplified frustration.
A view of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The embassy prohibits large bags, including suitcases, from entering the compound for security reasons. Industry observers say the attendants likely brought their luggage because airline culture often requires strict adherence to uniform and equipment rules, even outside flight duties.
Airlines conducting group visa interviews typically arrange bus transport and luggage storage. But this carrier, which was recently acquired by a rival and reported significant losses last year, is said to have scaled back such support.
In a statement, the airline apologized for causing inconvenience and said it would strengthen guidance and training to prevent a recurrence.
This photo shows a Starbucks outlet in Seoul. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The episode has reignited broader concerns about how public spaces are used. Starbucks, which in Korea does not strictly enforce purchase-based seating rules, has faced similar challenges in the past, from customers installing computer equipment to setting up makeshift study cubicles.
A Starbucks official said the company advises patrons not to leave belongings unattended for extended periods, both to reduce theft risks and to ensure fair use of seating.
For now, the small café near one of Seoul’s busiest diplomatic sites has become an unlikely flashpoint — a reminder that even in the age of global travel and digital work, the simple question of who gets a seat can stir outsized tensions.
