Smoking Ban Policy with Big Data!...Smart Seongdong-gu Smoking Ban Policy Gains Attention

Big Data Analysis of Indirect Smoking Damage Complaints and Fine Status Over 3 Years for Smart Smoking Cessation Policy Development... Analysis of Smoking Concentration by Time, Region, and Target Group to Develop Efficient Smoking Enforcement Patrol Routes... Development of Smoking Induction Index Model and Selection of Candidate No-Smoking Zones in Top Areas

No Smoking Campaign Near Wangsimni Station

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is establishing a smoking cessation policy by analyzing big data such as complaints about secondhand smoke damage and fine imposition status, and is working to create a smart smoke-free environment.

The data analyzed this time by the district includes accumulated data over the past three years on complaints about secondhand smoke damage, fine imposition, outdoor smoke-free zones, transportation facilities and educational facilities, and floating population.

The analysis was conducted over three months by the Seongdong-gu Big Data Center, launched in March last year, resulting in cost savings on research service fees.

The number of complaints about secondhand smoke damage in Seongdong-gu was 128 in 2015 but increased about 3.3 times to 419 in 2018. The number of fines imposed within smoke-free zones rose 7.6 times from 125 cases (11.08 million KRW) in 2015 to 950 cases (91.8 million KRW) in 2018. Despite expanding smoke-free zones annually to promote residents’ health and create a pleasant environment, complaints about secondhand smoke damage continue to increase.

Accordingly, Seongdong-gu utilized big data to minimize conflicts between non-smokers and smokers and to efficiently manage smoke-free zones.

In particular, through GIS (Geographic Information System) analysis, the district produced analysis results that officials can intuitively use, implementing science-based administration grounded in practical data.

First, by using data on complaints about secondhand smoke damage, fine enforcement, floating population, public transportation, and general restaurants, smoking hotspot areas were identified, and time-based smoking concentration areas were derived. From 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., areas around Wangsimni Station and the Singeumho Station intersection were identified; from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., areas near Seongsu Station and Ttukseom Station, where many office workers are located; and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., restaurant-dense areas near Hanyang University were identified as concentrated smoking zones.

Based on these results, smoking enforcement officers will be deployed to areas predicted to have concentrated smoking complaints by time zone, efficiently preventing secondhand smoke complaints with limited personnel. Currently, Seongdong-gu has a total of six smoking enforcement officers and smoking guidance officers active.

Mr. Yoo Dong-maeng (62), who works as a smoking enforcement officer, said, “Until last year, enforcement was conducted sequentially focusing on areas where many people gather, but since January this year, the district office has planned enforcement routes by time zone, allowing for more effective enforcement.”

A district official explained, “By adjusting enforcement routes reflecting big data, we are improving the efficiency of enforcement work and preventing secondhand smoke damage to non-smokers in advance. In fact, as a result of a safety project for children’s school routes based on big data analysis, the number of pedestrian traffic accidents involving children decreased by about 38% (from 50 cases in 2017 to 31 cases in 2018). We expect this smoking cessation policy to also have a positive effect on reducing complaints about secondhand smoke.”

Big data analysis results were also used to select candidate areas for smoke-free zones. The district developed a smoking inducement index calculation model to quantify the likelihood of smoking occurrence by 100m*100m standard grids from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Areas near Sangwangsimni Station, Oksu Station, and the Seongsu-dong Knowledge Industry Center showed high smoking inducement indices, and the district plans to further strengthen smoke-free measures.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “With smoking cessation policies utilizing big data, we are focusing on creating urban spaces where non-smokers and smokers coexist,” adding, “In the future, we will continue to analyze accumulated information from various departments as big data to provide customized policies for residents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.