Daejeon City to Raise Fine for Smoking in No-Smoking Areas from 30,000 Won to 50,000 Won Starting January Next Year

School Absolute Protection Zone, Bus Stop, etc.

Daejeon City will increase the fine to 50,000 won for smoking in non-smoking areas starting January next year. Photo by Daejeon City

The Daejeon city government announced that, in accordance with the revision of the "Ordinance on Designation of Non-Smoking Areas and Prevention of Smoking Damage," the fine for smoking in non-smoking areas will be raised from 30,000 won to 50,000 won starting January next year.

The fine for smoking in legally designated non-smoking areas is uniformly set at 100,000 won nationwide, but the fine for non-smoking areas designated by local ordinances varies by municipality, up to a maximum of 100,000 won.

Recently, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission recommended raising the fine for smoking in non-smoking areas designated by ordinance to at least 50,000 won to ensure fairness with the fines imposed in legally designated non-smoking areas.

As a result, among the 243 local governments nationwide, 181 (74%) are currently imposing fines of 50,000 won or more for smoking in non-smoking areas, and other municipalities are also moving to raise the fine to at least 50,000 won.

Non-smoking areas designated by local ordinances include absolute school protection zones (areas within a 50-meter radius of school entrances), bus stops, within 10 meters of urban railway entrances, urban parks, and other locations necessary to prevent the harm of secondhand smoke and promote citizens' health.

The Daejeon city government plans to intensively promote information about non-smoking areas and the increased fines through its website, social media, and banners.

Kim Jinok, head of the Disease Control Division of Daejeon city, said, "We hope that raising the fine for smoking in non-smoking areas will reduce the harm of secondhand smoke and help establish a mature non-smoking culture."

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