"This is a no-smoking area. Please enter the smoking booth to smoke a cigarette."
Around 10 a.m. on the 2nd, at Seoul Station Plaza located in Bongnae-dong, Jung-gu, and Dongja-dong, Yongsan-gu, a man passing by took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth when a uniformed officer wearing a vest marked 'health center' shouted this. The man, holding the cigarette, argued, saying, "I can't even smoke one cigarette properly."
According to Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu on the 2nd, the area around Seoul Station Plaza was designated as a no-smoking zone starting the day before (1st). The no-smoking zone covers a total area of 56,800 square meters, equivalent to eight soccer fields. It is a place that usually attracts large crowds as it has a bus transfer center and taxi stands.
Public officials from Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu, along with police officers from the Namdaemun Police Station, began joint enforcement. To smoke at Seoul Station Plaza, one must use two smoking booths located near subway Seoul Station exits 1 and 3. If caught smoking in other areas, a fine of 100,000 won will be imposed.
Jung-gu and Yongsan-gu operated a two-month guidance period to inform the public about this matter. Throughout the plaza, there were banners displayed by the health center that stated, 'No-smoking area designation notice,' and dozens of signs on the pavement stated, 'No-smoking area fine of 100,000 won' in both Korean and English. However, at the scene, the no-smoking zone was not being adhered to properly.
Around 10:30 a.m., a man in his 60s, apparently intoxicated, walked past with a cigarette in his mouth when the enforcement officer guided him, saying, "Please enter the smoking area." The man raised his voice at the officer, saying, "I haven't even lit it yet" and "I can't even smoke one cigarette." Some homeless individuals disregarded the enforcement and lit cigarettes while sitting on the sidewalk or stairs.
It was also common to smoke outside without entering the smoking booth. After observing for 10 minutes that day, nine people were seen smoking near the entrance of the booth. The enforcement officer repeatedly instructed, "The outside is a no-smoking area. Please go inside to smoke," but no fines were imposed.
Citizens were generally positive about the designation of the no-smoking area. A university student, Mr. Jo (23), said, "Every time I see someone smoking on the street, I often cover my nose as I pass by," adding, "Seoul Station is a place that many foreigners visit, so it could also help the national image." Another smoker, Mr. Kwon (43), noted, "From a non-smoker's perspective, I understand the policy," and added, "We should endure even if it is inconvenient."
Smokers pointed out that there are not enough smoking booths. There are no smoking booths near Cultural Station Seoul 284, the old Seoul Station building. If they want to use the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, they have to pass through this area. A smoker, Mr. Park (35), said, "I understand the expansion of the no-smoking area since Seoul Station is a heavily trafficked area," but also mentioned, "There are too few booths, making it inconvenient."
The issue of secondhand smoke remains. Smoking booths lack devices to eliminate cigarette smoke, allowing the smoke to waft to pedestrians passing nearby. A citizen, referred to as C, said, "There is still a strong smell of cigarettes near the smoking booths, which makes me cover my nose," and added, "I don't understand why they made it an open booth."
A representative from the Jung-gu Health Center stated, "The speed at which smokers smoke is faster than the smoke control device can handle, so we determined that an open design that allows the smoke to be discharged immediately is better for smokers." They also noted that the installation and operation of smoking booths within Seoul Station Plaza fall under the jurisdiction of the Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail).