Introduction of Separate Smoking Booths and Improvement of Ventilation Facilities Needed
Choi (29), an office worker living in Seocho-gu, Seoul, recently started carrying deodorizer with him. As an electronic cigarette user, he could no longer tolerate the lingering smell of traditional cigarettes on his body every time he visited a smoking area. Choi said, "I switched to electronic cigarettes because I disliked the smell of traditional cigarettes, but the smell is so strong in the smoking areas that I hesitate to go there," adding, "Considering non-smokers, I have to smoke in designated smoking areas, but sometimes, even if there is a smoking area, I look around and smoke in alleys."
A separated smoking booth operating in a cafe in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seungwook Park
Smoking areas installed throughout the city do not separate electronic cigarette users from traditional cigarette users, leading to growing dissatisfaction among electronic cigarette users. Some electronic cigarette users avoid using smoking areas due to the smell of traditional cigarettes, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the system.
130 Smoking Areas in Seoul... Dedicated Users Say "Avoid Because of Traditional Cigarette Smell"
According to Seoul City on the 19th, as of the end of last year, there are 130 public outdoor smoking booths and smoking areas installed in Seoul. Private smoking areas are estimated by Seoul City to number about 1,300 (last survey). Smokers can gather and smoke in these areas without distinction between electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes.
However, complaints are pouring in from some electronic cigarette users. Kim (31), an office worker, said, "Most electronic cigarette users dislike the smell of traditional cigarettes," adding, "Since many people smoke traditional cigarettes in the smoking areas, I often smoke in alleys instead of the designated smoking areas to avoid the smell." Lee (33), whom we met in Noryangjin-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, also expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "I switched to electronic cigarettes because I disliked the smell of traditional cigarettes, but what's the point of smoking in the same space as traditional cigarette smokers?" He added, "More people will end up smoking outside the designated smoking areas."
In fact, a significant number of electronic cigarette users choose electronic cigarettes because they dislike the smell of tobacco. According to a 'Smoking Status and Electronic Cigarette Survey' released by market research firm Embrain on the 13th, 54.9% of electronic cigarette smokers cited "disliking the smell of tobacco on the body" as their reason for using electronic cigarettes. They also rated electronic cigarettes as causing "less discomfort to others compared to traditional cigarettes" (53.1%).
It is also impossible to prevent electronic cigarette users from smoking outside designated smoking areas. Punishments related to smoking are only enforced in no-smoking zones designated by the National Health Promotion Act, such as schools and kindergartens. Penalties are limited to fines of up to 100,000 KRW. Outside no-smoking zones, there are no smoking regulations, and fines of up to 100,000 KRW are only imposed under the Minor Offenses Act for littering cigarette butts.
Lack of Separate Smoking Booths Dividing Electronic and Traditional Cigarette Users
There are no 'separate smoking booths' where smokers can smoke separately by cigarette type. In October last year, Gangnam-gu became the first local government to pilot separate smoking booths, but they have since been removed. A Gangnam-gu office official said, "The booths were installed as part of an event," adding, "There are no plans to pursue installation projects in the future."
54.9% of e-cigarette smokers cited "disliking the smell of tobacco on the body" as the reason for trying e-cigarettes. Photo by Getty Images
Separate smoking booths are only installed in some private facilities such as cafes. At a cafe in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where separate smoking booths exist, university student Lee (22) said, "Since the spaces for electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes are separated, the smell doesn't linger, and it's much more satisfying," adding, "Since I found out this cafe has such facilities, I visit often."
However, local governments are struggling not only to increase the number of separate smoking booths but even to expand smoking areas themselves. A Seoul City official said, "There is no legal provision requiring an increase in smoking areas, and it is difficult to realistically expand them due to the need to gather residents' opinions when designating smoking areas."
Experts agree that to prevent smokers from leaving designated smoking areas, it is necessary to strengthen ventilation management within smoking areas and consider installing separate smoking booths. Professor Shin Seung-ho of the Department of Environmental Health at Daegu Health College said, "In the absence of smoking regulations, local governments should invest budgets in ventilation devices and maintain them consistently to enable smokers to smoke in designated areas," adding, "This will reduce the avoidance of smoking areas due to odor issues." Professor Koo Sung-woo of the Department of Sociology at Sungkyunkwan University said, "Since electronic cigarette users leaving smoking areas can cause harm to non-smokers, administrative efforts are needed to enable the installation of separate smoking booths through ordinances."
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