Outdoor smoking ban likely to be extended

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff reporter

The majority of citizens would like the government to expand smoking-free zones to bus stops, zebra crossings and even residential areas, calling for tougher regulations on smokers outdoors, a government survey showed Sunday.

Reflecting the sentiment, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will recommend local administrations revise their ordinances to expand outdoor smoking bans.

According to the ministry’s survey of 3,000 adults nationwide, 94.3 percent of respondents agreed on adding child protection zones such as school zones to the list of smoking-free areas.

Most also agreed to ban smoking at bus stops (83.8 percent), parks and playgrounds (83.7 percent), tourists’ attractions (79.9 percent), zebra crossings (73.9 percent), streets (67.9 percent), and residential areas (65.5 percent).

The research was conducted ahead of the enactment of the revised National Health Promotion Act allowing individual local administrations to set up their own outdoor anti-smoking ordinances scheduled on Aug. 28. Those who violate the ordinance could be subject to up to 100,000 won fines.

Currently, a total of 79 local governments including seven provincial or metropolitan administrations including Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province, North Jeolla Province, South Gyeongsang Province and Jeju, have the pertinent rules. Nine others, including Incheon, Gwangju and Yanggu in Gangwon Province, are gearing up for the new measures.

The revision is expected to expand the boundary to a substantial number of outdoor spots.

“We have advised the local governments to reflect the survey results in implementation. More people are seeking a smoke-free society even outdoors,” a ministry official said.

Non-smokers, who have constantly complained about smokers on the streets and inhaling secondhand smoke, welcomed the guidelines. “For public health, smoking must be restricted. Think about all the toxic chemicals we have inhaled unwillingly!” 28-year-old Jang Eun-young, an office worker, said.

Currently, buildings over 1,000 square-meters, public facilities, underground stores, concert halls with a capacity of more than 300, schools, medical facilities and private educational institutions are designated as no-smoking zones.

Some parts of airports, hotels, sports facilities as well as restaurants should be spared for non-smokers while internet cafes and “Manhwabang” where people gather to read comic books for a long time are obliged to install partitions to segregate smokers.

The research results will also be used to establish the central government’s anti-smoking policies.

The authorities are currently considering various ways to reduce the rate including raising tobacco tax and adding incentives for smokers to quit.

In a separate survey, the smoking rate among adult males marked 42.6 percent, the highest among OECD states.

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