"Can't We Catch Secret Smokers?" Smoking Conflicts in Apartment Emergency Staircases [Han Reporter Goes]

Some Apartment Residents Smoke on Emergency Stairs... Sparks Conflict Among Neighbors
Fire Hazard and Unhygienic Secondhand Smoke Damage

Cigarette butts piled up on the emergency stairs of an apartment. Photo by Reader Submission and Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] # A in their 20s, an office worker living in an apartment, has recently been suffering from severe stress. Someone has been smoking cigarettes in the emergency stairwell, and the smell is coming into their room. A said, "The cigarette smell is so strong that when I go out to the stairs, the smoker is already gone," and expressed frustration, saying, "I don't understand why I, who don't even smoke, have to be a victim of secondhand smoke."

Recently, conflicts have arisen due to neighbors secretly smoking cigarettes in apartment emergency stairwells and then disappearing. Some apartment residents smoke in the emergency stairwell, which is a no-smoking area, and some even spit on the floor or throw cigarette butts carelessly before leaving.

B, a 40-something office worker who reported seeing various trash and cigarette butts in the emergency stairwell, said, "It's a space used by everyone, but many neighbors seem to think of it as their private property," and raised their voice, saying, "There are even people who smoke where notices ask not to smoke. It's really pathetic."

C, a non-smoker in their 30s, said, "The cigarette smell comes not only into the apartment hallway but also inside the house," and lamented, "It's not good for health, and I'm worried about the harm from secondhand smoke."

Given the situation, local governments are taking measures such as enacting smoking bans and designating no-smoking apartments.

No-smoking apartments require the consent of more than 50% of residents and an application by the resident representative meeting. Once selected, smoking is prohibited in common areas such as entrances, hallways, and elevators. Additionally, costs for promotional materials like banners encouraging residents to quit smoking are supported.

The problem lies in the agreement process. Consent from the head of the household, not the actual residents, is required, and there is no way to enforce a smoking ban inside the home, leading to concerns about the practical effectiveness.

Ultimately, apartment management offices post 'No Smoking' warning signs in stairwells, hallways, elevators, and underground parking lots, urging residents to refrain from smoking.

However, this also lacks significant effectiveness. The so-called 'secret smokers' who smoke and disappear often smoke right in front of the warning signs.

A cigarette butt discarded on the emergency stairs of an apartment. On the left, someone’s spit has dried and stuck there. Photo by reader contribution and Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

D, a 30-something apartment resident and office worker, said, "I've even seen people throw cigarette butts on no-smoking warning signs," and lamented, "I feel really frustrated, wondering if there is absolutely no way to deal with this." They also pointed out, "There is a fire risk, and there are really many problems."

The number of fires in special buildings was highest in apartments, with 1,154 cases. According to the '2018 Special Building Fire Statistics and Safety Inspection Results Analysis' published by the Fire Insurance Association, there were 153 fires with casualties, resulting in 68 deaths and 379 injuries.

The buildings with fatalities were hospitals (40 people), factories (15 people), and apartments (13 people), in that order. Property damage amounted to 73.72 billion won, an increase of 18.96 billion won (34.6%) from 54.76 billion won in 2017.

The number of fires was highest in apartments, with 1,154 cases. Fire locations included kitchens (442 cases), bedrooms (164 cases), and living rooms (153 cases), with living spaces accounting for 1,024 cases (42%).

The main cause of fires was carelessness (36.9%). Careless disposal of cigarette butts (31%) and carelessness during food preparation (27%) also led to fires.

While secondhand smoke, neighbor conflicts, and fire risks cause various controversies regarding smoking in public housing, some countries have implemented complete smoking bans. California in the United States has enforced a total smoking ban in all places except single-family homes since 2006. Ontario in Canada has also implemented a 100% no-smoking policy in most multi-unit housing since 2010.

Meanwhile, security guards responsible for educating and enforcing smoking bans among residents expressed practical difficulties. One guard said, "When I encounter a resident smoking during patrol, I ask them to put out the cigarette, but that's only at that moment," and lamented, "When I check the same place the next day, it's still full of cigarette butts."