Osan-si Designates Osak Market Arcade as a No-Smoking Zone

From November, a 50,000 KRW Fine Will Be Imposed for Violations

Osan City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 5th that it has designated the entire arcade area within Osaek Market as a non-smoking zone starting this month.

A banner indicating the designation of a non-smoking area is posted in the arcade of Osaek Market. The city plans to impose fines for violations starting this November after a guidance period.
[Photo by Osan City]

Osaek Market is a traditional market located in the Osandong 862 area, serving as both a five-day market and a permanent market. It is a market with a 90-year tradition, officially approved as a market in 1914 during the Japanese colonial period.

The newly designated non-smoking area covers the entire 1,225 meters of the arcade zone. The city explained that the designation was made to prevent secondhand smoke damage caused by smokers among market visitors and merchants, and considering the characteristics of traditional markets where the risk of large fires is high. After a period of promotion and guidance regarding the non-smoking zone designation, the city plans to impose a fine of 50,000 won for smoking starting from November 1.

To establish the non-smoking policy, the city also plans to operate a permanent mobile smoking cessation clinic at the Osaek Market Customer Support Center from mid-next month. Lee Gwon-jae, Mayor of Osan City, said, "We expect that the designation of the non-smoking zone will increase customer satisfaction and contribute to revitalizing the local economy," adding, "We will continue to actively create a non-smoking environment to protect citizens from secondhand smoke and prevent fires."