Cafes in Seoul have more power outlets than any other cafe in the world. Outlets are available at almost every seat.
This is not random. Koreans balance work and life in a unique way that reflects this outrageous business decision.
How Seoul cafes went out of their way to provide ample power outlets
Most residents in Seoul live in tiny apartments. Due to high real estate costs, there is no space to invite friends over for a meeting.
This is ultimately why cafes became the go-to solution. They function as public living rooms where people can spread out their laptops and most importantly, actually get work done.
Cafe owners caught onto this pretty fast and began devising plans that suited long stays. Chains like Hollys, Ediya, and even Starbucks were filling their stores with oversized tables, plush chairs, and of course, ample power outlets.
The cagong phenomenon changed the game
This term is “cagong” in Korean. It quite literally translates to camping out in a cafe for hours at a time.
Freelancers, students, and remote workers galore have fully adopted a culture of sitting for hours working on their laptops while slowly nursing a coffee.
Cafes that lacked power outlets suddenly started running low on customers because everyone decided to work from places that having plenty of charging ports.
How does Seoul compare with other cities?
Cafes in New York tend to have sporadic power outlets. Sometimes, you find one with access but other times, you are stuck at a table with no access to power.
Tokyo is even worse. Most cafes have only one or two power sockets, and the entire coffee culture there is focused on quick coffee breaks as opposed to long, work marathons.
In Paris, the cafe culture revolves more around socializing over wine along with some light banter. The cafes barely have any power outlets.
Seoul flips this script completely. Walk into any cafe in Seoul and you'll count the power sockets like they are menu items.
Why the tech factor is critical
When it comes to phone technology, South Korea has one of the most advanced phone networks on the globe. Almost everyone uses a laptop, tablet, and smartphone simultaneously.
Seoul’s infrastructure for cafes supports the lifestyle of digital nomads who travel to Seoul, making it easier to operate a business on the go.
A number of cafes in Seoul are even ready to serve customers round the clock. Some provide soundproof meeting rooms and private study booths. Rather than simply serving beverages, they are selling workspace by the hour.
Customer-driven Expectations Shaped New Norms
Let’s see how things have evolved. Customers began regarding outlets as basic amenities, similar to the presence of wifi or well-maintained restrooms.
Cafes that failed to provide adequate power infrastructure received poor ratings. Cafes that properly equipped their outlets with power kept customers satisfied and returning.
It’s now become the norm for even small independent cafes to place outlets at every table due to customer demand.
It’s sustainable
People staying for extended periods don’t always help profits but this is not the case with Seoul cafes, which appears to have balanced things out.
Customers sitting for long hours are likely to order a second drink, and many will buy lunch in the form of sandwiches or pastries.
These cafes are also able to offer slightly elevated pricing as they provide more than just a cup of coffee.
Global Expansion
Seoul’s model was efficient and other cities quickly began adopting it.
Regular cafes could no longer accommodate the growing demand for work-friendly environments, leading to the co-working spaces skyrocketing in popularity.
In terms of the pure number of outlets and cafe structures tailored to facilitate productivity, Seoul is still leading the pack.
Seoul’s unique urban lifestyle and work culture means there’s no place like a cafe for power outlets.
With cramped living spaces, Seoul’s cagong culture has turned cafes into indispensable workplaces. The abundant power outlets in cafes serve the needs of tech-oriented customers in need of long-stay amenities. This infrastructure is advantageous to digital nomads, students, and freelancers who utilize cafes as additional workplaces. Other cities around the world have yet to catch up to Seoul’s ergonomically designed work-cafe system.