Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Smokers in public places will be fined
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff reporter
Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday it will impose fines on smokers if they are caught smoking in designated public places such as bus stops, parks and school zones.
It revised its ordinance to impose fines of up to 100,000 won ($97) for those who smoke such places or within 200 meters of a school.
"We will protect citizens from the harm of passive smoking and raise the quality of the city prior to important international events such as the G-20 summit in November," a city official said. The National Health Promotion Act designating public areas as non-smoking zones was passed at the National Assembly last month.
The city will give advance notice of rules in July and implement the municipal ordinance this year, after receiving approval from a council session scheduled in October.
The city surveyed the effects of second-hand smoke last May and 91 percent of Seoulites supported reinforcing anti-tobacco policies ㅡ 67 percent of smokers also agreed to the plan.