30% of Seoul convenience stores sell cigarettes illegally to minors: data

Nearly three in 10 convenience stores in Seoul are selling cigarettes illegally to minors. / Korea Times file

By Park Si-soo

Nearly three in 10 convenience stores in Seoul are selling cigarettes illegally to minors, a survey showed Thursday. It was down from 48.3 percent in 2015 but still higher than expected, said Seoul City, which conducted the survey.

In Korea, selling cigarettes to people under 19 is illegal and retailers are obliged to check customers' IDs.

Seoul City plans to publish a list of convenience stores caught selling cigarettes to minors this year. It also will step up monitoring of stores near schools and districts popular with young students.