Nowon-gu Designates All Elementary, Middle, and High Schools as 'No-Smoking Zones' Within 10m

98 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools Including Special Schools Within the Area Are Within 10m... Smokers in No-Smoking Zones Fined 50,000 KRW, Guidance Period Until May, Smoking Crackdown from June... 600,000 KRW Incentive for 36 Months of Smoking Cessation, Operation of Smoking Cessation Clinics, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) has designated all 98 elementary, middle, and high schools in the area, including special schools, as 'No Smoking Zones' within 10 meters.

This is to prevent children from secondhand smoke exposure and to create a smoke-free environment. The district announced the additional designation of no smoking zones on the 10th of last month.

Smokers caught in the no smoking zones will be fined 50,000 KRW. Enforcement will begin on June 1 after a guidance period.

Before enforcement, the district will promote the designation through banners, newsletters, and the district website to inform residents.

Smoking booths for both smokers and non-smokers will also be increased. Currently, smoking booths exist only at Junggye Neighborhood Park and Deungnamu Culture Park, but additional booths will be installed at Gwangwoon University Station Plaza and Seokgye Station Culture Park.

The district has already designated the following as no smoking zones: ▲ Suraksan and Bulamsan Mountains, children's playgrounds (89 locations) ▲ within 10 meters of bus stops (567 locations) ▲ the entire Dongil-ro road (from Uijeongbu city boundary to Mukdonggyo bridge, 8.27 km extension) ▲ absolute school protection zones, Gongneung-garo Park, Gyeongchun Line Park ▲ within 10 meters of daycare centers and kindergartens boundaries.

The district also implements various policies to support smokers who want to quit smoking.

First is the 'Smoking Cessation Success Incentive Program,' which was the first of its kind nationwide in 2014. This program provides incentives to smokers who register at smoking cessation clinics and successfully quit for a certain period. Incentives are 100,000 KRW for 12 months, 200,000 KRW for 24 months, and 300,000 KRW for 36 months, allowing a total of 600,000 KRW depending on the success period.

By the end of last year, 2,823 residents succeeded in quitting for 12 months, 2,105 for 18 months, and 1,958 for 24 months, receiving smoking cessation success incentives worth approximately 690 million KRW in cash and other forms. The fines imposed last year totaled 175 million KRW.

Next is the operation of the 'Mobile Smoking Cessation Clinic.' This service provides one-on-one management by smoking cessation counselors for groups of 10 or more individuals or workplaces who wish to quit smoking, supporting them until 6 months of success.

Additionally, a 'Smoking Cessation Clinic' for office workers is operated through the district health center and local health branches. The district health center offers services every Wednesday evening and the fourth Saturday morning of each month. The Sangye Health Branch in Sangye 2-dong (every Monday and Thursday) and the Gongneung Health Branch in Gongneung 2-dong (every Tuesday) also operate clinics to make it easier for residents to access services. Any resident can visit with an ID card, register, and receive services.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok stated, "Since this is for the health of students studying, we will ensure that a culture of smoking only in designated areas is established for the sake of non-smokers as well."

Contact: Medical Affairs 2116-4362

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