An Ju Hui, University of Ulsan
The phrase Ca-gong-jok is a newly-termed word that is an abbreviation of Korean words meaning “study tribe in a café”, and refers to those people who study for long periods of time in one café setting. In Korea, the number of Ca-gong-jok is increasing steadily and this phenomenon makes for endless debates.
The affirmative side states that the cost of the beverage fee includes the right to enjoy the relaxed ambience of the cafe. In fact, according to some research, white noise improves work efficiency. Sounds such as background music or humming or the sound of friendly conversation helps one to concentrate more deeply. Therefore, the positive opinion of Ca-gong-jok is somewhat based on scientific grounds. Moreover, when people have to work in groups, it is convenient to gather in a cafe for a meeting, since people cannot talk one another in a library. Other research results show that studying through discussion with others is more effective than just studying by oneself, and that a cafe where people can study with other people in a cozy atmosphere may just be the best place to learn.
In contrast, most of the opponents are owners of café’s. The more Ca-gong-jok who study in their cafes, the fewer customers they are able to serve. Once a Ca-gong-jok sit at a table, they usually spend at least 2-3 hours studying. Although they purchase a cup of coffee, it could not exceed the sales to other customers. Furthermore, they use electricity, Wi-Fi, water resources and so forth. Even if it seems small, the total costs could place a heavy burden on owners. In addition, some Ca-gong-jok occasionally glare at other customers in order to make them keep quite. So even if the one of the purposes of going to cafe was to talk or chat with friends, these kinds of stares would put an end to it, and could lead to a decline of customers. It is no wonder why so many owners are feeling apprehensive.
All in all, Ca-gong-jok deserve to be treated the same as any other customers. In my opinion, the atmosphere of café spaces let people feel unconventional and refreshed and that perhaps leads to increased concentration. Provided that these new tribes comprehend the difficulties faced by owners and moderate their behavior, they might just become a new culture of the cafe industry globally.
