Invasive smoking restrictions

Municipal governments in South Korea can ban tobacco smoking in public areas within apartment blocks if a majority of residents agree, according to a story by The Korea Broadcasting System (KBS).

This follows the revision of the National Health Promotion Act on Monday.

Under the revised rules, KBS reported, the heads of municipal governments could designate alleys, stairways, elevators and underground parking lots of an apartment block as no-smoking zones if more than half of the residents consented to such a change.

Once such designations were made, no-smoking signs would be put up in the respective areas and people lighting up within those areas would be subject to fines.

Smoking on apartment terraces, which has been a growing source of conflicts among residents, has been excluded from the regulation. The ministry said it was difficult to regulate in relation to a private space.