'Smoke-Free City' Goyang Records Smoking Rate 2.3% Below National Average
City Restores Citizens' Right to Health by Creating a Breathable Smoke-Free Environment
Ten New Non-Smoking Areas Added This Year, Including National Cancer Center and GTX Station Entrances
Smoking Prevention Education Provided at 91 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools to Prevent Youth Smoking
The results of Goyang Special City's anti-smoking policies, aimed at building a healthier city, are becoming increasingly evident.
On May 31, Goyang Special City announced that it has established itself as a "smoke-free city" by lowering the smoking rate for three consecutive years through a variety of policies, including expanding non-smoking areas, operating smoking cessation clinics, and providing youth smoking prevention education.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's "2024 Community Health Survey," the smoking rate in Goyang Special City was 16.6%, which is 2.3 percentage points lower than the national average of 18.9%. The smoking rate has continued to decrease for three consecutive years: 18.3% in 2022, 17.4% in 2023, and 16.6% in 2024.
In the first quarter of this year, out of 854 people registered at the Goyang Special City public health center's smoking cessation clinic, 253 citizens succeeded in quitting smoking for more than six months, resulting in a success rate of approximately 30%.
Goyang Special City has also designated additional non-smoking areas this year to protect citizens' right to health.
The newly designated non-smoking areas include: Hwajeong No. 31 Landscape Plaza; eight entrances at GTX Kintex Station and Daegok Station; and the sidewalk around the National Cancer Center, totaling 10 locations.
Currently, there are 29,187 non-smoking areas operating in Goyang, and non-smoking announcement broadcasts are being made at 32 multi-use facilities.
Hwajeong No. 31 Landscape Plaza, located near the Goyang Children's Museum?a high-traffic area for children and adolescents?was designated as a non-smoking area in March. In line with the opening of GTX-A, eight locations within 10 meters of the entrances to Kintex Station and Daegok Station were also designated as non-smoking areas for public transportation users. The sidewalk around the National Cancer Center was designated as a non-smoking area as well, improving the environment for vulnerable populations.
The 38th World No Tobacco Day Promotion Campaign (Hwajeong Station Culture Plaza). Provided by Goyang Special City
Additionally, to help citizens easily recognize non-smoking areas and encourage smokers to quit on their own, non-smoking announcement broadcasting devices have been installed at multi-use facilities such as Ilsan Station and Tanhyeon Station Plazas. Currently, non-smoking broadcasts are being aired at a total of 32 locations.
The designation of non-smoking apartments, which contributes to the spread of a culture of community consideration, is also noteworthy. Goyang Special City has designated a total of 67 apartment complexes as non-smoking apartments based on the voluntary consent of residents. Last year, the city selected exemplary complexes with outstanding management and awarded the "Model Non-Smoking Apartment" commendation together with apartment managers.
Smoking cessation support services are also being operated to help smokers make and maintain their decision to quit.
At the smoking cessation clinics in the three public health centers, an initial registration consultation is conducted to assess lifestyle habits and nicotine dependence. Once an individualized cessation method is determined, telephone or in-person counseling and smoking cessation aids are provided for six months, with a focus on managing withdrawal symptoms.
From six to twelve months after registration, follow-up management services (by phone, text message, or email) are provided to help maintain smoking cessation and encourage real behavioral change.
Since last year, a contactless smoking cessation counseling service based on QR codes, available 24 hours a day, has also been in operation. By scanning the QR code placed in apartments or local administrative welfare centers, users can fill out a simple questionnaire and receive a phone consultation from a smoking cessation counselor at their preferred time.
The cumulative number of users has reached 1,097, making it a useful service that provides smoking cessation support without restrictions of time or place.
Sidewalk around the National Cancer Center designated as a non-smoking area. Provided by Goyang Special City
According to the 2023 Korea Welfare Panel Survey, 50.35% of smokers first tried smoking during their teenage years (under the age of 19), indicating that adolescence is the most effective period for education aimed at lowering the overall smoking rate.
In response, the city is actively promoting smoking prevention education in elementary, middle, and high schools to support healthy adolescent development. This year, the public health centers surveyed demand and, since April, have been dispatching professional instructors to conduct the education.
This year's education targets a total of 91 schools and 204 sessions: 36 schools and 100 sessions in Deogyang-gu; 24 schools and 54 sessions in Ilsandong-gu; and 31 schools and 50 sessions in Ilsanseo-gu. The city expects that this tailored smoking prevention education will effectively prevent adolescent smoking and contribute to early awareness change.
At the same time, promotional campaigns to encourage citizens to quit smoking are being actively conducted. Volunteers are recruited to regularly carry out street campaigns using sashes, placards, and leaflets at public facilities, parks, subway station entrances, and newly designated non-smoking areas.
Non-Smoking Apartment Designation Plaque Ceremony (E-Pyeonhansesang Jichuk Centum Garden). Provided by Goyang Special City
Donghwan Lee, Mayor of Goyang Special City, stated, "Quitting smoking is not only about protecting one's own health, but also a community practice that considers family and neighbors." He added, "We will continue to create an environment where citizens can voluntarily participate in quitting smoking and build a healthy city where everyone can breathe easy and feel safe."
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