No more smoking in Seoul main squares from March

Published : Feb 4, 2011 - 13:00 Updated : Feb 4, 2011 - 13:00

Smokers in Seoul will no longer be able to light up in the city’s main squares under the toughened anti-cigarette ordinance taking effect next month, the city council said Friday.

The smoking ban ordinance, which will come into effect on March 1, affects three main squares in downtown of the capital -- Seoul Plaza, Cheongyecheon Plaza and Gwanghwamun Plaza -- in a bid to reduce side effects of second-hand smoking in public spaces, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said.

As part of its public awareness campaign, the city government said it will set up warning signs around the squares by the end of this month and give a three-month notification period. When the grace period ends on June 1, those who smoke in the prohibited area will be slapped with a fine of 100,000 won ($90), it noted.

The Seoul city also plans to designate a total of 321 public spaces as non-smoking areas within this year, adding 23 city parks by September and 295 major bus stations by December, officials said.

The new ordinance was passed by the city council last October following the passage of an anti-smoking law at the parliament, which orders regional governments to implement anti-smoking policies to make it more difficult for people to smoke in public places. (Yonhap News)