On September 3, in front of an elementary school in Mapo-gu, Seoul, a banner stating that the area within 30 meters from the school boundary is a no-smoking zone was hanging by the roadside. However, right next to the banner, groups of nearby office workers were openly smoking. The warning that "a fine of 100,000 won will be imposed for smoking" seemed to serve as nothing more than a backdrop.

This spot is located directly in front of a building housing a daycare center, and the elementary school also has an affiliated kindergarten, resulting in frequent passage of children. Mapo-gu authorities have received countless complaints from daycare center parents and have attempted to crack down on smoking, but these efforts have had little effect.

Even after the amendment to the National Health Promotion Act, which expanded the no-smoking zone around elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as daycare centers and kindergartens, from 10 meters to 30 meters in August of last year, the situation on the ground has changed little. Smoking around schools remains common, and the expanded no-smoking zones have failed to fulfill their intended purpose.

After visiting four more elementary schools in Mapo-gu, it was easy to spot cigarette butts and empty cigarette packs discarded along the school fences. A parent who had come to pick up their child said, "I often see people smoking in front of the school," and added, "Although I hear about enforcement, I have never actually seen anyone being penalized."

The reason the expansion of no-smoking zones has had little effect is the practical limitation that it is impossible to monitor every smoker. In Seoul alone, there are more than 300,000 no-smoking zones, but only about 120 enforcement officers. This means, even with simple math, that each officer is responsible for over 2,400 no-smoking zones.

Cigarette butts piled up on the fence of an elementary school in Seoul. Photo by Choi Youngchan

원본보기 아이콘

An official in charge of no-smoking enforcement at a public health center in Seoul said, "Even in our case, just four people have to monitor all the no-smoking zones in one district, so it's impossible to handle all the smoking complaints we receive," and added, "Even if the number of personnel is increased, it doesn't seem like the problem can be solved."

Hong Sunggeol, a professor of public administration at Kookmin University, pointed out, "Regulation does not end with its creation; actual monitoring and the assurance of penalties are what increase compliance. At the very least, CCTV should be installed in habitual offender zones to strengthen enforcement, and fines should continue to be imposed."