Councilman moves to ban sidewalk smoking

/ Yonhap

By Lee Ji-hye

A Seoul Metropolitan councilman is pushing to ban smoking on city sidewalks and streets where school buses operate.

Rep. Nam Jae-kyung of the ruling Saenuri Party has submitted a bill to the council’s Health and Welfare Committee. It calls for such areas to be added to the no smoking zones outlined in the city’s Road Traffic Act.

"I am ultimately pushing for all streets to be designated as no smoking zones," Nam said. "Smoking in the streets is not only a matter of health rights, but of maintaining basic social order."

The revision bill aims to "expand the areas labeled as smoke-free zones in order to minimize the hazards caused by smoking and better pursue the right to health for all citizens of the city."

The revision will be discussed by the council in March and, if passed, could go into effect in mid-April.

The government recently raised cigarette prices from an average of 2,500 won per pack to 4,500 won. It also implemented a smoking ban at restaurants and bars.

Nam’s proposal also pushes for the city to create more public awareness campaigns to inform people about the dangers of smoking.

In a poll conducted by the city in 2013, 54.9 percent of respondents said they had inhaled second-hand smoking while walking on sidewalks. Nearly 22 percent said they had done so at bus stops; and 17.4 percent said they had at building entrances.

Currently, the fine for smoking in a smoke-free zone indoors is 100,000 won ($91.40) and between 50,000 won to 100,000 outside.

In response to the recent bans on smoking, 20 restaurant and bar owners will be asking the Constitutional Court to review the imposed policies, claiming that the ban is unconstitutional.