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Smoking in Korea
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AllIGotWasThisLousyTShirt



Joined: 29 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:42 pm    Post subject: Smoking in Korea Reply with quote

What's the smoking situation like in Korea? Is smoking banned in public places? Are there designated smoking areas? I tried searching for this, but couldn't find any info...your insight is appreciated!
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Alaskaman



Joined: 22 Sep 2009
Location: Bundang-Gu, South Korea

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Smoking is done everywhere! Most places allow smoking. Bars, eating establishments for the most part. Even when there are signs that state no smoking most people do not follow these signs. I have seen teachers smoking outside the main door of the school during teaching hours and students are walking by. Very relaxed about smoking, only place I have seen it even more open to smoking is Japan. Smoking is very cheap as well that is why most about 60-70% of Korean men smoke. They are $2.50 a pack. Comming from America this is nothing. Hope that this helps.
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kerbythepurplecow



Joined: 02 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ha! You can smoke nearly anywhere. Most restaurants, anywhere outside, all bars, there's a special area outside the hospitals, ect... the only place you're not supposed to is at school and on train platforms. Smokes are cheap here and tons of people smoke.
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exercise_in_futility



Joined: 11 May 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Smoking in Korea Reply with quote

AllIGotWasThisLousyTShirt wrote:
What's the smoking situation like in Korea? Is smoking banned in public places? Are there designated smoking areas? I tried searching for this, but couldn't find any info...your insight is appreciated!


Korea is smoker's heaven brah, you will love it here. You can pretty much smoke anywhere they serve alcohol, as long as you aren't cavalier about it. Also, it's really cheap here, W2500 which is roughly 2 bucks
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Stevie MAN



Joined: 29 Nov 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You don't see Korean women smoking outside with the men. But I do see women smoking in coffee shops and bars. I guess it's not as free for them.
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tzechuk



Joined: 20 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie MAN wrote:
You don't see Korean women smoking outside with the men. But I do see women smoking in coffee shops and bars. I guess it's not as free for them.


In 2002, my sisters - both smokers - came to Korea for my wedding. They got off the plane and began smoking while we waited for the airport bus. The bus driver started yelling them and my eldest sister, who could be a real bitch, looked at him with an evil eye and started yelling at him in Cantonese. Haha, it was so funny to watch.

But yes, Korean women don't have that much freedom because there will always be ajosshis around who think it is their moral duty to scold them for smoking in public.

The older women, on the other hand, don't care though and smoke freely as they walk down the street. I saw one just this morning.
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Xuanzang



Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Sadang

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie MAN wrote:
You don't see Korean women smoking outside with the men. But I do see women smoking in coffee shops and bars. I guess it's not as free for them.


The park in Hongdae or the streets will often find women lighting up in public.
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fermentation



Joined: 22 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can even smoke in non-smoking areas if you're a guy. There are almost no restrictions on smoking in Korea.
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strange_brew



Joined: 12 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

fermentation wrote:
You can even smoke in non-smoking areas if you're a guy. There are almost no restrictions on smoking in Korea.


Yeah, it's really, really, gross, people smoke everywhere. Your lungs will hate you in this country, even if you're not a smoker.
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guava



Joined: 02 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was outside of Yongsan Station and I observed a smoker toss his cigarette as he was waiting to cross the street. Two men stopped him and issued him a ticket.
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kerbythepurplecow



Joined: 02 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

guava wrote:
I was outside of Yongsan Station and I observed a smoker toss his cigarette as he was waiting to cross the street. Two men stopped him and issued him a ticket.


That's rare. I've never seen someone ticketed even when they toss a butt down next to a cop.
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Steelrails



Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
the only place you're not supposed to is at school


Uhh, my school must have missed that memo. Our teachers blatantly smoke in front of the kids on school grounds. Course there's also on-the-clock drinking if you're done with your classes for the day.

Big Surprise- The world doesn't end.
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WavFunc



Joined: 23 Oct 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Smoking in Korea Reply with quote

AllIGotWasThisLousyTShirt wrote:
What's the smoking situation like in Korea? Is smoking banned in public places? Are there designated smoking areas? I tried searching for this, but couldn't find any info...your insight is appreciated!


Korea is strictly non-smoking. You can't smoke anywhere with the exception of: sidewalks, streets, roads, bus stops, Noraebangs, PC Bangs, most restaurants, underground walkways, hallways, on mountains, in parks, in nature reserves, in the forest, in smoking rooms at the airport, in most apartments, in any kind of vehicle, in stairwells, on the roof, in every basement and right in front of a new born baby fresh from the womb.

Other than that, strictly non-smoking. Yup.
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Crockpot2001



Joined: 01 Jul 2007

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Smoking in Korea Reply with quote

exercise_in_futility wrote:
AllIGotWasThisLousyTShirt wrote:
What's the smoking situation like in Korea? Is smoking banned in public places? Are there designated smoking areas? I tried searching for this, but couldn't find any info...your insight is appreciated!


Korea is smoker's heaven brah, you will love it here. You can pretty much smoke anywhere they serve alcohol, as long as you aren't cavalier about it. Also, it's really cheap here, W2500 which is roughly 2 bucks


Although not likely, the OP might be asking as he/she is NOT keen to smoke or being near smokers.
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exercise_in_futility



Joined: 11 May 2009

PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Smoking in Korea Reply with quote

Crockpot2001 wrote:
exercise_in_futility wrote:
AllIGotWasThisLousyTShirt wrote:
What's the smoking situation like in Korea? Is smoking banned in public places? Are there designated smoking areas? I tried searching for this, but couldn't find any info...your insight is appreciated!


Korea is smoker's heaven brah, you will love it here. You can pretty much smoke anywhere they serve alcohol, as long as you aren't cavalier about it. Also, it's really cheap here, W2500 which is roughly 2 bucks


Although not likely, the OP might be asking as he/she is NOT keen to smoke or being near smokers.


Fair enough. Although in my experience, when i was in NYC and NOT smoking, all the anti-smoking laws forced smokers outside which in my opinion made things worse for non-smokers. In Seoul, the laws are less stringent so if OP is keen on avoiding second hand smoke, he can simply not frequent drinking establishments...
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