‘Sleep Cafés’ Become a New Favorite Among Seoul Office Workers

At a Glance (China Coffee Network): “Sleep cafés” are rapidly spreading across Seoul’s business districts as office workers trade crowded lunches for 30-minute paid naps—a trend reflecting South Koreans’ shrinking sleep time and a booming sleep economy.

According to a June 21 report by The Korea Times, the lunch-break culture in Seoul’s core business districts is quietly changing. In dense office areas, office workers are gradually abandoning the tradition of eating together and queuing for meals, instead using their 20–30 minute midday break to take a nap at nearby “sleep cafés.” This new workplace phenomenon is linked to South Koreans’ decreasing sleep time and growing attention to rest quality and sleep management.

An office worker in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area said she has used “sleep cafés” for several consecutive months. She usually eats lunch quickly at the office, then goes to a nearby shop to nap and refresh. In her view, dining out often means facing crowds and long lines, which is more tiring. By contrast, a short nap gives her truly effective rest. The report said Gwanghwamun’s “sleep cafés” mostly feature high-end massage equipment, offering undisturbed short rest services; for about 10,000 won (1,000 won ≈ 4.4 yuan), consumers get 30 minutes in an independent rest space.

Currently, this new type of rest business is rapidly spreading across Seoul’s core commercial and office areas. Besides Gwanghwamun, in dense office and tourist areas such as Myeong-dong and Gangnam, the number of “sleep cafés” equipped with massage chairs, private booths and rest beds keeps growing.

By 2021, South Korea’s sleep-economy market had exceeded 3 trillion won and continues to expand at an annual growth rate above 10%. “Sleep cafés,” focused on short rest, are gradually becoming common supporting facilities in South Korean urban business districts. Many Korean office workers also visit such spaces for a brief rest after working overtime.

The continued popularity of “sleep cafés” in Seoul reflects the reality of South Koreans’ shrinking sleep time. A survey by Statistics Korea showed that the average daily sleep time for people aged 10 and above was 8 hours and 4 minutes, down 8 minutes from 2019. This is the first decline in national sleep time since Statistics Korea began related surveys in 1999. The survey also showed that 11.9% of South Koreans have insomnia problems such as difficulty falling asleep.