Smokers in street protest in Seoul

Smokers, who normally comprise one of the most submissive large minority groups of all, are starting to voice their opposition to the designation of no-smoking streets and areas in Seoul, South Korea, according to a story in the Korea Times.

The latest no-smoking street is a 250-meter-long strip called Hwigyeong-ro, which leads from the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to a subway station in front of the school.

Those found to be violating the ban will face a WON100,000 fine from next year—following a four-month period of grace starting in September.

Lee Yeon-ik, head of a local smoker’s community, I Love Smoking, said that whereas his group understood the reasons behind the government’s effort to reduce the harm caused by passive smoking, the designation of nonsmoking areas was killing the rights of smokers who had paid high levels of taxes for the privilege of smoking.

Smokers’ tax revenue should be used for smokers who needed smoking booths within otherwise smoke-free areas, he said.

The designation of smoke-free zones and the installation of smoking booths should occur at the same time, he added.