Seocho-gu Wins Presidential Award at Korea Public Design Awards for "Open-Type Smoke Extraction Smoking Facility"

A Case Study of Urban Environments for Coexistence Between Smokers and Non-Smokers

Seocho-gu in Seoul (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) has received the Presidential Award, the grand prize, at the "2025 Korea Public Design Awards," hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, for its "Open-Type Smoke Extraction Smoking Facility."

Open-type smoke ventilation facility view. Provided by Seocho District.

The "Open-Type Smoke Extraction Smoking Facility" was highly praised for alleviating conflicts between smokers and non-smokers and for presenting a new solution to large-scale street smoking on back roads of Gangnam-daero and similar locations.

The district established the direction of its smoking and non-smoking policies with five solutions: regulation, warning, protection, guidance, and coexistence. This approach respects the rights of smokers while encouraging voluntary restraint and minimizing harm to non-smokers, thereby creating a space for coexistence. In particular, this award-winning project was recognized for its excellence, as it was found to be easily scalable nationwide through public participation reviews and on-site verification.

Additionally, the "Open-Type Smoke Extraction Smoking Facility" moves beyond regulation and enforcement-focused approaches by integrating technology and design to address the fundamental causes of smoking aversion: smoke and odor.

Installed in areas with high concentrations of smokers, this facility uses an air curtain to block the spread of cigarette smoke outside and is equipped with four patented smoke extraction and purification devices to release purified air. Furthermore, a large-capacity ashtray with an automatic extinguishing function has been installed, simultaneously enhancing convenience for smokers and improving the environment.

The district designed the facility based on scientific analysis and empirical studies to naturally encourage use of the interior, thereby reducing the impact of secondhand smoke and increasing pedestrian satisfaction. As a result, the initiative is being recognized for presenting a new model for coexistence between smokers and non-smokers, while minimizing the balloon effect that can arise from strictly regulation-centered policies.

In addition, the district has implemented "QR code information boards" utilizing "nudge design" to naturally encourage behavioral change, guiding smokers to move from non-smoking areas to designated smoking zones. This has significantly reduced the number of enforcement cases. These efforts have also led to the district receiving the Minister of Health and Welfare Award and the Grand Prize at the Seoul Non-Smoking City Achievement Competition.

Meanwhile, the "Korea Public Design Awards" is a design award that selects and honors exemplary cases of public design to broaden the cultural role and awareness of public design and to contribute to expanding citizens' cultural enjoyment rights. This year, the theme was "Coexistence: Public Design for Tomorrow."

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, "We have worked to improve the urban landscape and address social issues through public design," adding, "We will continue to enhance the quality of life for residents and create an urban environment where everyone can coexist through leading public design in Korea."

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