Smoking to be Banned in All Coffee Shops, Restaurants

Smoking and vaping are to be prohibited in every restaurant and coffee shop in Korea from next year.

Any business or person violating the regulation will be subject to a fine of 1.7 million won (US$1,541) or 100,000 won (US$90), respectively. Seats for smokers in coffee shops and the like are prohibited, too.

The Ministry of Health & Welfare announced on Dec. 11 that approximately 600,000 restaurants and coffee shops are newly designated as no-smoking zones from the first day of 2015.

The businesses are allowed to provide smoking areas without tables though.