Smokers in Seoul Plaza to be fined

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sat, September 30, 2023 | 19:01

Smokers in Seoul Plaza to be fined

Posted : 2011-01-21 18:41

Updated : 2011-01-21 18:41

By Park Si-soo

Starting in March, smokers in Seoul Plaza and two other squares in downtown Seoul will be fined 100,000 won ($90), the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday.

In September twenty three other public places, including Seoul Forest in Wangsimni, will be added to the list of smoke-free areas where smokers will face hefty fines. From December, the same policy will be applied to 295 bus stops in Seoul, the city government said.

This is in line with the government’s move to expand smoke-free zones amid the growing health risks due to second-hand smoke.
A survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last July found more than 80 percent of the respondents agreed to ban smoking at bus stops, playgrounds, tourist attractions and other public places.

Reflecting the sentiment, the ministry asked local governments, including Seoul, to revise their ordinance to expand outdoor smoking bans.

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

The smoking rate among Korean adult males marked 47 percent, the third highest after Turkey and Greece among OECD member states

서울 광장에서 흡연하면 과태료 10만원

서울시는 20일, 올 해 3월부터 서울 광장 및 다른 2곳의 광장에서 흡연할 경우 10만원의 과태료를 부과할 것이라고 밝혔다.

9월부터는 왕십리에 있는 서울 숲을 포함하여 23개의 다른 공공 장소도 추가적으로 비흡연구역으로 지정되어, 흡연할 경우 과태료 부과 대상이 된다. 12월부터는 서울 시내의 295개 버스 정류장에서도 흡연이 금지되면, 이를 위반할 경우 과태료 처분을 받게 된다.

이러한 정책은 간접흡연의 피해를 줄이고 비흡연 구역을 확대하려는 정부 노력의 일환이다.

지난 7월에 진행된 보건 복지부의 설문에 의하면 응답자의 80% 이상이 버스 정류장, 운동장, 광광지 등과 같은 공공 장소에서의 흡연을 금지하는 것에 동의했다.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr