📖 South Korea
Guide
Smoking rules in South Korea — where can you smoke?
South Korea bans smoking in virtually all indoor public places and in a growing number of outdoor zones — bus stops, parks, and areas near schools and hospitals. Cities such as Seoul and Busan provide designated smoking booths and marked outdoor areas, and smoking outside them in a no-smoking zone can lead to fines (commonly around ₩100,000). Heated tobacco is popular but treated like cigarettes in most regulations.
Key points
- ✓Look for designated smoking booths in business districts.
- ✓Avoid smoking near bus stops, parks and schools.
City rules in South Korea
Seoul bans smoking in all restaurants, cafés and bars (since 2015), within 10 m of subway exits, at bus stops, in city parks and several central zones (e.g. Gwanghwamun–Seoul Station). Smoke only in designated areas — fines start at ₩100,000.
Busan applies Korea's nationwide indoor smoking ban (restaurants, cafés, bars) plus local no-smoking streets and parks (e.g. Seomyeon, Busan Citizens' Park). Smoke only in designated areas — fines apply.
FAQ
Where can you smoke in Seoul?▾
In designated smoking booths and marked outdoor areas. Many streets, bus stops and parks are no-smoking zones with fines.