Gwangju Seo-gu Pungam-dong Hanguk Adelium Apartment Designated as a 'No Smoking Area'

Published 08 Sep.2021 11:59(KST)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Seo Dae-seok) announced on the 8th that Pungam-dong Hanguk Adelium Apartment will be designated as a non-smoking area.

According to Article 9, Paragraph 5 of the National Health Promotion Act, if more than half of the households living in an apartment complex apply to designate all or part of the hallways, stairs, elevators, and underground parking lots as non-smoking areas, the local government will designate them as non-smoking areas through administrative procedures.

At Pungam Hanguk Adelium Apartment, 111 out of 194 households (57.2%) agreed to designate the hallways, stairs, elevators, and underground parking lots as non-smoking areas.

After a promotional and guidance period of about six months, starting from February 1, 2022, a fine of 50,000 won will be imposed if smoking is detected in the designated non-smoking areas within the apartment.

In addition, Seo-gu Public Health Center supports non-smoking apartments designated as non-smoking areas by providing plaques and banners to inform residents of the non-smoking zones, and offers various health promotion services such as mobile smoking cessation clinics and blood pressure and blood sugar checks to apartment residents in celebration of the designation.

Including this Pungam Hanguk Adelium Apartment, a total of six non-smoking apartments have been designated in Seo-gu.

An official from Seo-gu Public Health Center said, “As the time spent in residential spaces has increased due to COVID-19, this is expected to help reduce the recent surge in smoking-related disputes within apartment complexes,” and added, “We will continue to expand the designation of non-smoking apartments through various promotional activities to create a voluntary smoke-free environment and promote residents’ health.”

For inquiries about applying for the designation of non-smoking areas in apartment complexes, contact the Health Promotion Division of Seo-gu Public Health Center.