21 June 2026
By Nam Yun-jung – Seoul Economic Daily
Many nonsmokers complain of discomfort from cigarette smoke on the streets. The trend of expanding no-smoking zones into outdoor spaces and imposing fines for violations has already taken hold in several countries.
According to a secondhand smoke perception survey conducted by polling firm Hankook Research on 1,000 adults aged 19 and older nationwide, released Tuesday, 92% of respondents had experienced secondhand smoke in the past month, and 99% of those inhaled smoke in public places. The streets were the most common location for secondhand smoke exposure at 96%, followed by building entrances and stairwells at 86%.
The scarcity of spaces where smoking is permitted is another source of conflict. Based on Seoul city statistics cited by Hankook Research, as of the end of 2024, there were approximately 280,000 no-smoking zones in Seoul, while smoking zones numbered just 6,200, only 2.4% of the no-smoking zones. Since then, more than 90% of all no-smoking zones in Seoul have been concentrated in indoor public facilities, and the problem of secondhand smoke harm caused by smoking pushed outdoors has been steadily pointed out.
A growing number of countries are settling such conflicts with fines. Since July last year, France has banned smoking in outdoor spaces frequented by children. Beaches, parks, areas outside schools, bus stops, and sports stadiums are subject to the ban, and violators face a fine of 135 euros (about 210,000 won). However, cafe and bar terraces and e-cigarettes are excluded.
Japan is a representative country that regulates outdoor smoking with fines. The city of Kyoto bans street smoking outside designated zones by ordinance, and those caught smoking in no-smoking areas are fined 1,000 yen.
Regulations differ by city in Japan, but generally smoking is prohibited outside designated zones such as roads and station platforms, and those caught smoking in places without smoking zone markings can be fined.
The strictest regulation is in Singapore. Public places such as public transportation, shopping centers, and tourist attractions are designated as no-smoking zones, with violators fined 1,000 Singapore dollars. The same amount is imposed for carelessly discarding a cigarette butt. Smoking is not allowed outside designated smoking areas.
In the United States, some areas block outdoor smoking itself. Calabasas, California, banned smoking anywhere indoors and outdoors, with some exceptions, through a 2006 ordinance.
Glendale prohibited smoking in all public places including parks, parking lots, near outdoor automated teller machines (ATMs), and apartment hallways, and Los Angeles has already banned smoking in public places such as beaches and parks.
Britain has gone a step further with generational regulation. In April, the British Parliament gave final passage to the “Tobacco and Vapes Act,” which permanently bans tobacco sales to those born after Jan. 1, 2009. At the same time, it expanded no-smoking zones to vehicles carrying children, playgrounds, areas outside schools, and near hospitals, and included e-cigarettes among the regulated items.
Korea is also moving to expand outdoor no-smoking zones. The Seoul city government has decided to expand no-smoking zones to bus stops and neighborhood parks, imposing a fine of 100,000 won on those caught smoking there. Parts of the Gangnam-daero sidewalk and the Sejong-daero sidewalk have also been designated as no-smoking zones under ordinance.