Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Lawmaker proposes bill to ban smoking while walking
A lawmaker has proposed a new bill to ban smoking while walking to protect pedestrians from secondhand cigarette smoke. Korea Times file
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Smoking while walking would be banned in Korea if a new bill passes into law.
Rep. Hwang Ju-hong of the minor liberal Party for Democracy and Peace proposed a bill early this month to ban smoking on virtually all public roads and walkways.
If the National Assembly passes the bill, violators would be fined 100,000 won ($90).
“Non-smokers are often exposed to tobacco smoke because of some inconsiderate smokers,” Hwang said. “Public opinion is in favor of banning smoking while walking.”
Korea has already banned smoking in most restaurants, offices and public venues such as parks.
Smokers opposed to the bill complain that there are not enough smoking rooms. According to the Seoul Institute's study in 2017, the number of public smoking rooms in the city with a population of 10 million people was only 10,000.