"They Asked for an Additional Order After 2 Hours"... Unending 'Kagongjok' Debate in Japan

Customer: "There are empty seats" vs. Cafe: "It affects operations"

Japanese Survey Shows 68% of Cafe Guests Stay 'Within One Hour'

An ongoing debate has erupted in Japan over "Kagongjok," the culture of staying in cafes for extended periods after ordering just one cup of coffee. With similar controversy persisting for several years in South Korea, attention is turning to how this issue is viewed in Japan.

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Customer Asked for Additional Order After 2 Hours in Cafe... Debate Over 'Kagongjok' Heats Up in Japan

According to Japanese media outlet Financial Field on September 7, an incident was reported in which a customer who had ordered one drink and spent about two hours working on a laptop was asked by a staff member to "place an additional order." After the story became a trending topic online, reactions were divided among netizens regarding prolonged cafe use.

The customer reportedly found it strange to be asked for an additional order even though there were empty seats in the store. On the other hand, the cafe argued that if more customers occupy seats for extended periods after only ordering a single drink, it could affect the experience of other customers and overall cafe operations.

Netizens who read the story were also split in their opinions. Some sided with cafe owners, noting, "If you want to study, just use the library." Others countered, "Aren't cafes nowadays selling space, not just coffee?"

According to Financial Field, it is not mandatory in Japanese cafes to place an additional order after spending two hours with just a cup of coffee, as policies can vary by establishment. However, it is generally customary to follow posted guidelines such as "Please place an additional order for extended stays," or "Time limits apply during peak hours."

There is also survey data on cafe usage time in Japan: According to a 2026 survey by Japanese media outlet MERY of 1,000 respondents aged 15 to 30, the most common answer for cafe stay duration was "30 minutes to 1 hour" at 39.6%, followed by "less than 30 minutes" at 28.4%. In total, 68% said they stayed less than one hour.

Last year, according to ITmedia Business Online and other outlets, as remote work became more common, the number of people using cafes as work or study spaces increased, prompting large Japanese cafe franchises to respond accordingly.

In some major urban locations such as Tokyo, certain stores now restrict usage time to between 90 and 120 minutes, or display notices about usage time limits on seats, in order to prevent prolonged stays.

The installation of personal dividers on cafe seats, which became controversial on social media. Screenshot from SNS

Debate Over 'Kagongjok' Continues for Years in South Korea... Cafes Targeting Customers Using Cafes for Work or Study

Meanwhile, the debate around Kagongjok continues in South Korea as well. While it has become common to see people working or studying in cafes, behaviors such as installing personal partitions or leaving their seats unattended for long periods have sparked controversy after being shared on social networking services (SNS).

Recently, however, the cafe industry’s perspective on Kagongjok is also changing. Unlike in the past, when customers occupying seats for extended periods were seen as burdensome, more cafes are now offering dedicated spaces and services targeting those who visit to work or study.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.