Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Smoking to be banned around preschools, daycare centers
By Kim Rahn
Smoking will be banned near the 50,000 daycare centers and kindergartens nationwide starting Dec. 31, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Wednesday.
Violators will be subject to 100,000 won ($88) in fines.
The ministry said the revised regulation would take effect on Dec. 31 to protect children from secondhand smoking.
Areas within 10 meters of the buildings will be designated as non-smoking zones. So far, smoking has been banned inside such facilities including schools, preschools and daycare centers.
The ministry has expanded non-smoking areas since 1995 when the relevant law was established, from medical facilities, public transportation and internet cafes to all restaurants by 2015. Billiard rooms and indoor screen golf places also became smoke-free starting December 2017.
Such efforts have significantly reduced harm caused by secondhand smoking. The ratio of non-smokers exposed to smoking at indoor public places has declined from 58 percent in 2013 to 52.2 percent in 2014, 35.4 percent in 2015, 22.3 percent in 2016 and 21.1 percent in 2017.
The ratio at workplaces also dropped from 47.4 percent in 2013 to 40.1 percent in 2014, 26.9 percent in 2015, 17.4 percent in 2016 and 12.7 percent in 2017.