Seongdong-gu Expands Smart Smoking Booths Operation...Simultaneously Ensuring Prevention of Secondhand Smoke and Smoking Rights

First Installed by Local Government in 2022, Operating 9 Facilities for Both Smokers and Non-Smokers, 8 More to Be Added in Second Half of This Year
Negative Pressure Equipment and Air Purification Function Prevent Smoke Leakage and Quickly Remove Harmful Substances, Introducing Collection Ashtrays for Cigarette Butt Recycling
Smart Smoking Booth in Front of Wangsimni Station Exit 6 Used by 3,000 People, 86.2% User Satisfaction

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeong Wono) announced that it will operate a total of 9 smart smoking booths by installing 7 additional Seongdong-type smart smoking booths in the first half of this year.

Currently, Seongdong-gu operates 1 booth near Seoul Forest Station, 1 booth behind Exit 6 of Wangsimni Station, and 5 booths in knowledge industry centers (Seoul Forest Pohyu, Seoul Forest IT Valley, Arc Valley, Halla Sigma Valley, Seongsu Station SKV1 Tower). Additionally, booths will be installed at Seongsu Station and 2 locations in Sesin Building (scheduled for completion by the end of May), bringing the total to 9 smoking booths.

The Seongdong-type smart smoking booths are enclosed booths first installed by the local government in November 2022. Equipped with negative pressure facilities, cigarette smoke does not leak outside even when the booth door is open. The principle is to keep the air pressure inside the booth lower than the surrounding area so that air always flows from outside into the booth.

Also, an air purification device is installed to continuously circulate the internal air, and the purification filter expels cigarette smoke and harmful substances outside. The interior of the booth is treated with a special coating to prevent nicotine or tar from sticking.

The ashtrays installed inside the smart smoking booths are also noteworthy. When cigarette butts are disposed of in the ashtray, they undergo an automatic extinguishing and crushing process inside. The accumulated cigarette ash and butts are detoxified and processed into thermoplastic wood, which can be recycled into eco-friendly wood products.

The area near Seoul Forest Station, where Seongdong-gu first installed the smoking booths, is densely packed with offices. Before installation, smoking-related complaints averaged 170 cases per year, but complaints have significantly decreased since the pilot installation.

On weekdays, the number of users ranges from an average of 1,200 to 1,600 per day, and the smart smoking booth behind Exit 6 of Wangsimni Station, which has a high floating population, sees about 3,000 users. Furthermore, according to a survey conducted in April on the operation of smart smoking booths, 671 out of 778 respondents (86.2%), including smokers and non-smokers, expressed satisfaction. Accordingly, Seongdong-gu plans to install 8 more smart smoking booths in the second half of this year.

Meanwhile, since September last year, Seongdong-gu has expanded the installation target of smart smoking booths to the private sector, actively encouraging the installation of smart smoking booths when constructing private buildings with a total floor area of 2,000㎡ or more (for multi-family housing and officetels, private buildings with 20 or more households/units).

For newly constructed buildings that receive relaxation in floor area ratio and height by installing a certain percentage of publicly accessible open spaces under the Building Act, the installation of smart smoking booths in the open spaces has been made mandatory when applying for building permits (or when applying for review if subject to the Building Committee review).

Accordingly, the building owner of the relevant new building must specify the location of the smart smoking booth in the plan when applying for building review and install the smart smoking booth before applying for use approval.

For buildings that do not receive relaxation in floor area ratio or height through publicly accessible open spaces, installation is recommended, and if legally permissible, smoking booths can also be installed on the site outside of the open spaces.

Jeong Wono, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “Smart smoking booths prevent harm caused by secondhand smoke, protect the rights of smokers, and serve as an alternative to resolve conflicts and promote coexistence. We will continue to do our best to realize a smart inclusive city where everyone is considerate and happy.”