Smoking to be banned in Seoul''s main squares from March

Seoul, Feb 4 (Yonhap) Smokers in Seoul will no longer beable to light up in the city''s main squares under thetoughened anti-cigarette ordinance that will take effect nextmonth, the city council said today.

"The smoking ban ordinance, which will come into effecton March one, will include three main squares in downtown ofthe capital -- Seoul Plaza, Cheongyecheon Plaza andGwanghwamun Plaza -- in a bid to reduce side effects ofsmoking in public spaces," said the Seoul MetropolitanGovernment

As part of its public awareness campaign, the citygovernment said it will set up warning signs around thesquares by the end of this month and give a three-monthnotification period.

When the grace period ends on June one, those who smoke inthe prohibited area will be slapped with a fine of USD 90, itsaid.

Seoul city also plans to designate a total of 321 publicspaces as non-smoking areas within this year, adding 23 cityparks by September and 295 major bus stations by December,officials said.

The new ordinance was passed by the city council lastOctober following the passage of an anti-smoking law at theparliament, which ordered regional governments to implementanti-smoking policies to make it more difficult for people tosmoke in public places. (Yonhap)