Gwangju Dong-gu "Smoking Cessation Treatment Leads to Reduction in Smoking Fines"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Im Taek) announced on the 5th that starting from the 4th, it has implemented a reduction system where a person fined for smoking in a non-smoking area can receive a 50% reduction if they undergo smoking cessation education within one month, and a full exemption if they receive smoking cessation support services within six months, following the revision of the National Health Promotion Act.

Currently, a fine of up to 100,000 KRW is imposed for smoking in non-smoking areas.

Instead of paying the fine, Dong-gu plans to actively encourage smokers to quit by providing smoking cessation support services such as ▲smoking cessation education ▲public health center smoking cessation clinics ▲specialized treatment smoking cessation camps ▲hospital smoking cessation treatment ▲smoking cessation counseling hotlines to those who wish to receive reductions or exemptions.

Those who want to receive a fine reduction should refer to the Dong-gu Office website and submit the education and smoking cessation support service application form to the public health center that imposed the fine within the opinion submission deadline (within 15 days after the fine is imposed).

Im Taek, Mayor of Dong-gu, said, “The easiest and best way for us to protect our health is smoking cessation and exercise,” adding, “I hope that more smokers will succeed in quitting smoking through smoking cessation education and support services.”