"Top in Enforcement and Smoking Ban Policies"... Seocho-gu's 'QR Smoking Ban Project' Wins Minister of Health and Welfare Award

Selected as an Excellent Institution in World No Tobacco Day 'Best Practice Evaluation'
Introduced 'Smoking Violation Confirmation Certificate Smoking Cessation Education QR Code'... First Nationwide
Lowest Smoking Rate Among Seoul Districts at 11.4%

A citizen caught smoking is applying for smoking cessation education using the QR code on the smoking violation confirmation. Provided by Seocho-gu.

Seocho-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced on the 3rd that it was selected as an outstanding institution at the ‘2023 Community Smoking Cessation Project Best Practice Evaluation’ ceremony held on the 31st of last month in celebration of the 37th World No Tobacco Day, receiving a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.

This evaluation was conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare to discover and share best practices that contributed to creating smoke-free environments among local governments nationwide, aiming to enhance policy effectiveness.

Seocho-gu received praise for promoting the ‘QR Code Utilization Smoking Cessation Project,’ which can be easily accessed via mobile phones. It was recognized for presenting a ‘smoking cessation enforcement paradigm’ that increases convenience and accessibility for residents while reducing secondhand smoke damage and encouraging smoking cessation.

In particular, Seocho-gu was acknowledged for being the first nationwide to introduce a ‘Smoking Cessation Education QR Code’ on the paper smoking violation confirmation form, allowing smokers caught on-site to conveniently and immediately apply for ‘smoking cessation education and support services,’ thereby increasing attempts to quit smoking.

The ‘Smoking Cessation Education and Support Services’ were introduced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in June 2020 as part of a smoking violation fine reduction program. Completing a 3-hour online course reduces the fine by 50%, and completing a 6-month smoking cessation support service such as a smoking cessation clinic results in a full exemption.

Seocho-gu improved the violation confirmation form in May 2022 and independently developed a mobile web page for education applications. Smokers caught during enforcement can access the application, course attendance, and certificate submission all in one stop via QR code on their smartphones.

As a result, the application rate for education and support services increased nearly fourfold. Before introduction (June 2020?April 2022), it was only 10.4%, but after introduction (May 2022?March 2024), it rose to 40%. The number of applications last year was 5,673, the highest among Seoul’s autonomous districts. Notably, among 15 smokers who applied to the Seocho-gu Public Health Center smoking cessation clinic using the QR code last year, 6 successfully quit smoking for six months.

The nation’s first ‘Smoking (No Smoking) Zone QR Map Guide’ also received positive evaluations. This encourages smokers to smoke outside no-smoking zones and was installed in 98 high-smoking areas such as the Express Bus Terminal and bus stops in May last year.

When accessing the QR code, a map appears showing smoking cessation-related information within a 300-meter radius of the current location, including counseling locations for smoking cessation clinics and all smoking (no smoking) zones within Seocho-gu. The district plans to install an additional 200 signs by the end of the year, focusing on areas around convenience stores and tobacco retailers.

At the World No Tobacco Day ceremony held on the 31st of last month at the Yeouido Federation of Korean Industries Building, officials from Seocho-gu who received the Minister of Health and Welfare Commendation are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Seocho-gu.

An official from the district stated, “These efforts to create a smoke-free environment contributed to the reduction in smoking rates, which strengthened our case for this award.” According to the Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s ‘Community Health Survey,’ as of last year, Seocho-gu’s smoking rate (11.4%) was the lowest compared to the Seoul city average (16.6%).

Seocho-gu has designated no-smoking zones within 10 meters of children’s park boundaries, operates the private smoking cessation ambassador group ‘Seocho Smoking Cessation Coaching Team,’ and conducts the nation’s first ‘Youth Health Promotion’ education against tobacco normalization. As of last year, the number of enforcement cases was 14,779, the highest among Seoul’s autonomous districts.

Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “Seocho-gu has been recognized as a model case leading the nation’s smoking cessation culture,” adding, “We will continue to implement smoking cessation policies tailored to residents’ needs to create a ‘Healthy City Seocho.’”