Smoking in a no-smoking area in Korea costs 100,000 won — that much most people know. Open the fines table in the Enforcement Decree of the National Health Promotion Act, though, and no-smoking areas split four ways: one of them costs 50,000 won, and another is whatever local ordinance sets. The Act also lets the fine be halved if you take a smoking education course, or waived entirely if you use a stop-smoking service. We read articles 9 and 34 of the Act, article 34 of the Decree and Annex 5 as written.
1. Inside public buildings it is 100,000 won; apartment corridors and stairs 50,000 won. No-smoking areas in public-use facilities cost 100,000 won, apartment areas designated at residents’ request 50,000 won, and within 30 metres of kindergartens, daycare centres and schools 100,000 won.
2. Street no-smoking areas are set by ordinance. Areas designated by local ordinance cost an amount set by ordinance within 100,000 won. Drinking in an ordinance-designated no-drinking area works the same way.
3. A stop-smoking service can wipe out the fine. Apply by the deadline for submitting your opinion: an education course brings a 50% reduction, and a stop-smoking service such as treatment or counselling a full waiver. Anyone reduced twice or more in the last 2 years is excluded.
Who designates no-smoking areas — four paragraphs of article 9
Article 9 of the National Health Promotion Act creates no-smoking areas four ways, and paragraph 8 ties them together: “No person shall smoke in a no-smoking area designated under paragraphs 4 to 7.”
- Paragraph 4 — whole public-use facilities. The National Assembly, central and local government buildings, schools (including grounds), medical facilities, daycare centres, libraries, playgrounds, waiting rooms, platforms and underpasses of transport facilities, office buildings and factories of 1,000 square metres or more, tourist lodgings, bathhouses, game venues, restaurants and bakeries above a certain size and more, items 1 to 26. Owners or managers designate the entire facility and may provide a smoking room.
- Paragraph 5 — apartments. If half or more of resident households apply, the local government designates all or part of corridors, stairs, lifts and underground car parks.
- Paragraph 6 — around children’s facilities. The local government designates areas within 30 metres of the boundary of kindergartens, daycare centres and schools (those open to public passage and use).
- Paragraph 7 — ordinance. Local governments may designate places where many people gather or pass by ordinance. Street no-smoking areas outside buildings usually arise this way, and locations vary by area.
Fines — Decree Annex 5 as written
| Where you smoked | Fine | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| No-smoking area of a public-use facility | 100,000 won | Act art. 9(4) · Annex 5 (ba) 1) |
| Apartment no-smoking area (corridors, stairs, etc.) | 50,000 won | Act art. 9(5) · Annex 5 (ba) 2) |
| Within 30 m of a kindergarten, daycare centre or school | 100,000 won | Act art. 9(6) · Annex 5 (ba) 3) |
| Ordinance-designated no-smoking area | Set by ordinance within 100,000 won | Act art. 9(7) · Annex 5 (ba) 4) |
| (For reference) drinking in an ordinance-designated no-drinking area | Set by ordinance within 100,000 won | Act art. 8-4(2) · Annex 5 (da) |
Annex 5 has columns for first, second and third or later offences, but the three smoking lines show the same amount in all three (100,000 each; 50,000 each). Repeat offences do not raise the fine. Article 34(3) of the Act caps it at “100,000 won or less.”
Reductions — 50% or all of it
Article 34(5) of the Act allows a reduction when the person liable takes certain education or stop-smoking services, and article 34 of the Decree sets the procedure.
| What you take | Reduction | Deferral of the fine |
|---|---|---|
| Education on the harms of smoking and need to quit | 50% off | 1 month from applying |
| Stop-smoking services such as treatment and counselling | Full waiver | 6 months from applying |
- Deadline. Submit the application to the local government by the deadline for submitting your opinion on the fine (Decree art. 34(2)). You cannot apply for both.
- Proof. Within the deferral period, file the reduction application with proof of completion (paragraph 4).
- Exclusions. Anyone in arrears, or who has been reduced this way twice or more in the last 2 years, is not eligible.
Checklist
- ☐ Signs in your apartment’s corridors, stairs, lifts or car park? Then 50,000 won
- ☐ Within 30 metres of a school or daycare fence?
- ☐ Bus stops and parks — check local ordinance
- ☐ Received a fine notice? Consider applying for a stop-smoking service before the opinion deadline
Questions that remain
Do e-cigarettes count?
Article 9(8) bans “smoking,” and what counts as tobacco follows the definitions in tobacco legislation. We did not reproduce those definitions here, so ask your public health centre about specific products.
What about balconies or inside flats?
Apartment no-smoking areas under paragraph 5 are corridors, stairs, lifts and underground car parks; the inside of households is not included. Smoke drifting between neighbours falls outside the fines table. Noise and dispute procedures in multi-unit housing are covered in noise between floors.
Sources
- National Health Promotion Act [in force 30 Apr 2026] [Act No. 21607] — original text (checked 29 September 2026). Source for article 8-4 (no-drinking areas), article 9(4) to (8) (four routes, items 1 to 26, one half, 30 metres) and article 34(3) and (5) (100,000 won or less; reductions).
- Enforcement Decree of the National Health Promotion Act [in force 19 Mar 2026] [Presidential Decree No. 36171] — original text. Source for article 34 (50%, full waiver, 1 month, 6 months, twice in 2 years) and Annex 5, standards for fines (100,000 won, 50,000 won, ordinance).
Where to check further
- Stop-smoking services and education — the stop-smoking clinic at your local public health centre.
- Ordinance no-smoking areas near you — your city, county or district website.
Written on 29 September 2026. Articles and annexes are from the National Law Information Center; the tables are ours. The fine for dropping a cigarette butt in the street is in littering fines.
