Dobong-gu Designates Entire Elementary School Commute Routes as No-Smoking Zones

After a 3-month grace period, a fine of 100,000 KRW will be imposed for smoking on school routes near elementary schools starting December 1

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dobong-gu (Mayor Lee Dong-jin) has designated all elementary school routes in Dobong-gu as smoke-free zones starting in September to create a safe environment free from cigarette smoke for growing students.

This smoke-free zone designation was made after gathering opinions from the 22 elementary schools in Dobong-gu and local residents.

Currently, there are a total of 23 elementary schools located in Dobong-gu.

With the designation of the school routes of the remaining 22 elementary schools, excluding Baegun Elementary School’s route which was designated in 2018, as smoke-free zones, smoking will be prohibited on all elementary school routes designated as smoke-free areas.

The district will first maintain the smoke-free zone signs in the absolute protection zones for the educational environment around elementary schools (within a 50m radius from the school entrance), which are already managed as smoke-free zones, and will additionally install smoke-free route signs to create a smoke-free environment on elementary school routes.

Furthermore, the designated smoke-free route sections will have a three-month smoking cessation guidance period until November 30, during which smoke-free zones and smoking cessation will be promoted.

Starting December 1, smoking within smoke-free zones will be strictly enforced, and violators will be fined 100,000 KRW.

In addition, in response to the COVID-19 situation, the district is making efforts to spread a smoke-free culture through various smoking cessation projects such as ▲operating non-face-to-face smoking cessation clinics ▲conducting smoking cessation campaigns ▲carrying out smoking enforcement and guidance during vulnerable times such as weekends and nights ▲providing online smoking cessation education for children and adolescents.

Lee Dong-jin, Mayor of Dobong-gu, stated, “To create a pleasant environment free from cigarette smoke, it is essential to raise awareness that cigarette smoke can harm others, so we ask for the active cooperation of all residents. We will continue to implement policies to establish a smoke-free environment.”

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