The coffee chain was forced to issue a statement asking people “refrain from bringing desktop computers, printers, or other bulky items that may limit seating and impact the shared space”.

Laptops, tablets and mobile phones “are welcome”, it added.

It is increasingly common in South Korea to see workers taking over large amounts of space in public cafés, according to the BBC.

As well as printers and desktop PCs, some workers even bring partitions, creating makeshift cubicles around their tables.

However, there is now a significant backlash against the practice, known as cagongjok, with wide support for Starbucks’ new policy.