May 25, 2012—The metropolitan government of Seoul, South Korea, said on Wednesday that it would begin enforcing tobacco smoking bans in more public places next month in an effort to turn all public areas of the city into smoke-free zones, according to a story by Lee Eun-joo for the Korea JoongAng Daily.
In June, the city will impose fines of up to WON100,000 on people found smoking tobacco in any of 1,950 non-smoking areas that include parks, children’s playgrounds, squares and bus stations.
Of the 25 districts in Seoul, five districts, Gwanak, Gwangjin, Dongdaemun, Gangdong, and Dobong, began enforcing tobacco smoking bans in March.
Starting next month, Jung, Seongdong, Mapo and Geumcheon will start to impose fines, while the remaining districts, excluding those of Seodaemun and Jongno, will levy fines from July 1. Seodaemun will start enforcing the ban from September while Jongno will begin doing so in January of next year.