Resumption of Smoking Cessation Guide Activities in Seongbuk-gu

Seongbuk-gu Smoking Cessation Guides Conduct Inspections, Guidance, and Surveillance from the 15th of This Month to Year-End... Youth Clean Sales Point Guidance and Inspection, Compliance Check of No-Smoking Area Facility Standards, Surveillance and Guidance on Smoking in No-Smoking Areas

Non-face-to-face Training for Smoking Cessation Instructors

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) resumed the activities of smoking cessation guides on the 15th to create a smoke-free environment and protect residents from secondhand smoke.

Accordingly, 10 smoking cessation guides will begin full-scale activities after non-face-to-face job training.

For the next year, the smoking cessation guides will conduct guidance and inspections of youth clean sales stores, check compliance with facility standards in smoke-free zones, monitor and educate against smoking behaviors in smoke-free areas, and more.

The district plans to strengthen guidance and inspections of smoking facilities (zones) due to the recent increase in respiratory diseases caused by fine dust and concerns that smokers are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

Currently, Seongbuk-gu has a total of 10,565 smoke-free zones, including 9,662 public facilities under the National Health Promotion Act and 903 locations such as subway entrances, bus stops, parks, rivers, and streets established according to Seoul City and Seongbuk-gu ordinances.

The smoking rate in Seongbuk-gu was 17.6% in 2019, a decrease of 1.6% from 19.2% the previous year, but still higher than Seoul City's smoking rate of 16.7%.

An official from the district stated, “Through the activities of the smoking cessation guides, we ask for the residents’ great interest and cooperation to create a smoke-free environment in the community and protect youth from secondhand smoke. We will also do our best to ensure residents can live safely by thoroughly implementing preventive measures such as adhering to COVID-19 quarantine rules even when smoking.”

Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center Health Promotion Team