Seocho-gu 'Block-Type No-Smoking Zones' Officially Enforced

Approximately 32,700㎡ of old pedestrian sections from Isu Station to Sadang Station on Dongjak-daero and nearby Bangbae Bokgae-ro from Gusan Building to Pastel City... The district moves away from one-way smoking bans on Gangnam-daero and designates Dongjak-daero and Bangbae Bokgae-ro as block-type no-smoking zones with four smoking areas to prevent balloon effects, receiving positive responses from residents

Block-Type No-Smoking Area Map

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seocho-gu (Mayor Jo Eun-hee) has been conducting full-scale enforcement after a guidance period since designating the nation's first block-type non-smoking zone on April 29.

The designated area covers approximately 32,700㎡, including the sidewalk sections under Seocho-gu jurisdiction from Isu Station to Sadang Station along Dongjak-daero, and the nearby Bangbae Covered Road from Gusan Building to Pastel City.

Over the past three months, the district has installed four smoking booths in the area and carried out installation work for various non-smoking promotional materials and facilities.

Additionally, daily regular guidance activities have been conducted through the non-smoking enforcement team and non-smoking coaching team. After enforcement begins on July 30, a fine of 50,000 KRW will be imposed for violations.

The newly designated block-type non-smoking zone breaks away from the previous one-way non-smoking zones such as Gangnam-daero by designating the sidewalks and nearby roads as a block. Previously, no smoking areas were designated within non-smoking zones, causing dissatisfaction among violators, but this block-type non-smoking zone includes four designated smoking areas, resolving such complaints.

Moreover, it prevents the balloon effect where smokers move to side streets, receiving great support from residents.

Since 2012, the district has led non-smoking policies by designating Gangnam-daero as a non-smoking street for the first time nationwide and designating a 10-meter non-smoking zone around daycare centers and kindergartens.

In particular, the designation of a 10-meter non-smoking zone around daycare centers and kindergartens in Seocho-gu became the impetus for adding this provision to the National Health Promotion Act.

Expanding on this, in July last year, Seocho-gu became the first in the nation to designate a non-smoking zone within 10 meters of school boundaries and operated a non-smoking coaching team composed of local parents, focusing on preventing secondhand smoke exposure among children and adolescents.

They have also taken the lead in balanced non-smoking policies such as installing line-type smoking areas, smoking booths, and Seocho-style cigarette butt collection bins.

Open Smoking Booth

Especially to prevent COVID-19 infection, open-type smoking booths are thoroughly managed with weekly regular disinfection by the Seocho Disinfection Team and posting guidelines for COVID-19 prevention during smoking.

Jo Eun-hee, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “By taking a step beyond the existing fragmented non-smoking zone designations and designating the nation's first block-type non-smoking zone, we aim to enhance the effectiveness of non-smoking zones and create a leading non-smoking environment to realize a smoke-free Seocho.”

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