"Thirty people ordered five drinks and showed up two hours later": Flight attendants used Gwanghwamun Starbucks as a bag storage room

[Financial News] Recently, dozens of travel bags were repeatedly left unattended at a Starbucks near the Embassy of the United States in Seoul in the Gwanghwamun area. As a result, customers visiting the store often could not find seats. It later emerged that new flight attendants from a Korean airline had been using the café as a temporary luggage storage space while they went to the U.S. Embassy for visa interviews.
According to Yonhap News Agency on the 10th, around 7 a.m. the previous day, about 30 to 40 seats—roughly 80% of the store—were tightly packed with bags but no people. The bags belonged to newly hired flight attendants from a Korean airline.
The store manager said, "Thirty flight attendants come in, order only five to ten drinks, then leave just their bags and all go out. They come back about two hours later after finishing their interviews at the U.S. Embassy," adding, "Staff say they have done this at least five times recently."
The manager continued, "When we asked them to move their bags for other customers, they responded, 'We placed orders, so why are you asking us to do that?'"
The U.S. Embassy does not allow large bags such as suitcases inside due to terrorism concerns. Even so, the flight attendants appear to carry their suitcases because of airline culture that requires them to maintain prescribed uniforms and items even when they are off flight duty.
For corporate group visa interviews, companies usually charter a bus so that luggage can be stored there. However, this airline is reported to have recently stopped providing such support. The company, which was acquired by a competitor, recorded a large deficit last year.
The airline stated, "We apologize for causing inconvenience to customers and the business at the store," and added, "We will strengthen guidance and training for our staff to ensure this does not happen again."
gaa1003@fnnews.com Reporter An Gaeul Reporter