NEWS
VISITORS BEWARE: S. KOREA STARTED ALCOHOL BAN IN DESIGNATED ZONES
By Susan Lewis
8-1-2024
Credit: Siulan Law Mathews
Many local governments in South Korea started banning alcohol consumption in designated public areas from New Year’s day, with fines of up to WON100,000 (USD76).
South Korea passed the National Health Promotion Act in June 2021, which gave legal power to local authorities to designate no-drinking zones.
Since last year, many local governments have proposed related ordinances. But the scope of prohibited zones and the level of fines vary from region to region.
The local authorities of Gwangjin-gu in eastern Seoul said they have started enforcement of drinking ban at a children's park on the first day of the New Year.
Anyone found drinking alcohol or possessing an open bottle in a no-drinking zone will be fined WON100,000.
Neighboring Jungnang-gu has passed a similar ordinance, imposing a fine of WON50,000 to those drinking at Myeonmok Station Plaza.
Goyang in Gyeonggi Province has designated 148 children's parks and 196 playgrounds as no-drinking zones, where a fine of up to WON50,000 will be charged if an individual is spotted drinking alcohol.
A total of 22 parks directly operated by the Seoul metropolitan government are also looking to implement limitations.
But the local authority has to put alcohol ban at areas next to the Han River on hold, largely due to opposition from users of the Han River parks.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
**IF YOU THINK THE WINE CHRONICLE IS WORTH SUPPORTING, PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO HELP US IMPROVE AND CONTINUE OUR WORK**
TRENDING│ FOCUS│ MISSION│ ABOUT US│ CONTACT
| 