Smoking booths to be allowed

The establishment of tobacco smoking booths near subway station exits in Seoul, South Korea, is expected to be allowed under a revision to an upcoming ordinance, according to a story in The Korea Times.

Last year, city councilors Choi Pan-sul and Kim Hea-rean proposed a bill to designate as non-smoking areas within 10 meters of subway station exits.

The ordinance is scheduled to take effect in April at 1,662 exits across the capital.

Smokers strongly opposed the new rule and Choi conceded that if smokers moved outside this zone non-smokers would still be exposed to second-hand smoke. The problem was only moved from one place to another.

“So we decided to revise the rule so that booths can be established,” Choi added.

In addition, it seems as though the ban on smoking booths was contrary to the National Health Promotion Law, which allows enclosed smoking zones in areas where smoking is prohibited.

However, smoking booths will not be established at Seoul’s bus stations because of a lack of space.

The council plans to pass the revision during a provisional meeting on February 24.