'Hangang Chimaek' Ending This Year? ... What Do You Think About the 'Park Alcohol Ban' Ordinance?

Proposal to Designate 'No Alcohol Zones in Public Places' Including Hangang Park
Civic Debate... "Excessive Regulation" VS "Public Drinking Is Unsightly"
Over 70% of Citizens Support Alcohol Restrictions in Parks, Survey Shows
Seoul City: "Need for Sufficient Public Consultation... Will Minimize Citizen Inconvenience"

Citizens are enjoying their rest at Banpo Hangang Park. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Will the romantic 'Hangang Chimaek (Chicken + Beer)' disappear after this year? Citizens' attention is focused on the Seoul Metropolitan Government's ordinance amendment related to the designation of public places as no-alcohol zones. If the 11th City Council, newly formed after the June 1 local elections, passes and promulgates such an ordinance amendment, drinking will be prohibited in designated public places six months later.

According to Seoul City on the 17th, the city is working on revising the 'Ordinance on the Promotion of a Healthy Drinking Culture' to the 'Ordinance on the Designation of No-Alcohol Zones and the Promotion of a Healthy Drinking Culture' to establish a legal basis for designating no-alcohol zones.

The amendment allows the Seoul Mayor to designate local government offices, offices of local government-funded or supported institutions, urban parks, river and stream areas and facilities, public transportation facilities such as bus stops, children's playgrounds, and youth activity facilities as no-alcohol zones. Some expect Hangang Park and Yeontral Park (Yeonnam-dong + Central Park in Seoul) as candidates for no-alcohol zones.

Citizens expressed concerns about losing the romance of 'Hangang Chimaek.' Some voiced complaints that it might excessively restrict individual freedom.

Moreover, since related discussions arose last year, there is speculation that Seoul City might push the ordinance this time. Some say that the discussion on 'restricting alcohol consumption in Hangang Park' emerged following the case of Son Jeong-min, who went missing after drinking in Hangang Park at the end of April last year and was found dead. However, at that time, due to strong opposition from citizens, Seoul City withdrew from policy promotion.

On the other hand, there are also many who feel uncomfortable with drinking in public places. Park, a 20-something office worker who frequently visits Hangang Park, said, "I wonder if restricting drinking only during late-night hours, like when drinking was banned due to COVID-19, would be possible." Previously, from July 6 to November 7 last year, Seoul City issued an administrative order banning nighttime drinking after 10 p.m. in all of Hangang Park, 25 major parks managed by the city, and Cheonggyecheon Stream.

There is also a survey result showing that more than 7 out of 10 people support restricting drinking in parks. According to a study titled 'Development of Guidelines for the Designation and Management of No-Alcohol Zones in Public Places,' conducted by Professor Son Ae-ri of the Department of Health Management at Sahmyook University under a contract with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 76.3% of survey respondents supported restricting drinking in parks. The survey was conducted by Professor Son through the polling agency Embrain from June 7 to 11 last year, targeting 1,000 adults nationwide (sampling error ±3.1 percentage points).

Citizens spending their holiday at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

However, Seoul City clarified in explanatory materials on the same day that it is not immediately designating specific areas, including Hangang Park, as no-alcohol zones. The city explained, "This ordinance is to create a legal basis that can include public offices, daycare centers, youth protection facilities, urban parks, rivers, etc., as no-alcohol zones, considering the protection of vulnerable groups and social public interest."

The city added, "Sufficient opinions from citizens and experts are necessary," and "Even if designated, it will be limited to some areas or certain time periods rather than the entire zone, to avoid excessive restrictions and minimize citizen inconvenience."

When related discussions arose earlier, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also stated that he would have a sufficient period for gathering opinions. At a press conference on May 17 last year, regarding 'Hangang Park drinking regulations,' he said, "There is a drinking culture, so can we uniformly ban drinking in public places?" He added, "We will have a campaign period of six months to one year, hold debates, public hearings, and public discussions, gather opinions from experts in various fields, and implement it after sufficient time."

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