National Assembly remains smoker’s paradise

By Lee Tae-hoon

Seoul is waging a war against smokers by imposing penalties of between 50,000 won ($42) to 100,000 won on those caught indulging the habit in any of the capital’s 1,950 non-smoking zones, including main streets and public parks.

However, the National Assembly, located in Yeouido beside Seoul’s Han River, remains a haven for smokers with no laws deterring, nor penalizing lawmakers for smoking inside or outside parliamentary buildings.

Smoking has been banned in office buildings and factories larger than 1,000 square meters under the National Health Promotion Act since July 2006, but each floor of the National Assembly Members Office building continues to operate two smoking areas providing a ventilation fan and ashtrays.

The parliamentary building which is over 100,000 square meters is believed to be one of the last government buildings in which smoking occurs.

There is a long tradition of nicotine-addicted legislators openly smoking in their offices with ashtrays placed on their tables. One lawmaker of the 18th Assembly even insisted on smoking during a meeting of senior party leaders.

“You may say there has long been collusion between legislators and reporters, many of whom are heavy smokers, over the issue,” a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Saenuri Party said.

“Everyone acknowledges the problem, but no one is willing to implement the law.”

Apart from within indoor smoking rooms, Assembly staff members are regularly seen smoking in lawmaker’s offices or in indoor staff lounges of the newly-extended Members building.

Those who are mindful of non-smokers can light-up on a terrace located on the third and fifth floor of the expanded section of the Members building completed this year at a cost of 202 billion won ($171 million).