Below are the facilities designated as no-smoking zones and the related rules under the National Health Promotion Act. For each type of facility, you can check how much of it is a no-smoking zone and whether a smoking room may be installed.
This English version is a reference translation. If it differs from the Korean version, the Korean version prevails.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 1: Buildings of the National Assembly
Subparagraph 2: Buildings of the government and local governments
Subparagraph 3: Court offices under the courts of legal bodies and buildings of other legal bodies
Subparagraph 4: Buildings of public institutions under the Act on the Operation of Central Administrative Agencies
Subparagraph 5: Buildings of local public enterprises under the Local Public Enterprises Act
Government Performance Evaluation Committee
Article 2 (Definitions): In addition, a “government building” means a building, its ancillary facilities, and its site that the State has decided to use for central administrative agencies and their affiliated agencies, local governments, and public institutions.
Detailed rules
Under the Regulation on the Management of Government Buildings, the entire premises is designated as a no-smoking zone; where individual laws or regulations apply, those are followed.
Government buildings not covered by the Regulation on the Management of Government Buildings post no-smoking signs and may install a separate smoking room on the rooftop or outdoors.
For local government buildings, the local government may install a smoking room, following the policy direction of Gyeonggi Province.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 7: School buildings of universities under the Higher Education Act
Subparagraph 6: Kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools under the Early Childhood Education Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Detailed rules
The entire building is a no-smoking zone; however, a smoking room may be installed.
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone; however, a separate smoking room may not be installed inside the building, while a separate outdoor smoking room may be installed.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 8: Entire hospital buildings of medical institutions under the Medical Service Act
Public health centers, health subcenters, and health and medical centers under the Regional Public Health Act
Detailed rules
The entire facility is smoke-free, and separate indoor smoking rooms may not be installed.
Outdoor smoking facilities may be installed and operated, but smoking is not allowed within 10 meters of the building’s exterior walls or of spaces such as emergency exits.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 10: Youth training centers under the Youth Activity Promotion Act
Youth welfare facilities under the Youth Welfare Support Act
Detailed rules
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted.
Smoking facilities may not be installed separately inside the building.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 9: Senior welfare facilities under the Welfare of Older Persons Act
Detailed rules
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 11: Libraries under the Libraries Act
Detailed rules
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 12: Children’s play facilities under the Children’s Play Facilities Safety Management Act
Detailed rules
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 13: Among academies under the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes and Extracurricular Lessons, academies of 1,000 square meters or more and school-subject tutoring academies
Detailed rules
Smoking is prohibited in public places such as the academy building, waiting rooms, platforms, and underground areas; however, a separate smoking room may be installed.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 14: Waiting rooms, platforms, and underground walkways of transportation facilities such as airports, passenger piers, railway stations, and bus terminals, and means of transportation with 16 or more seats that carry passengers or freight
Detailed rules
Means of transportation with 16 or more seats that carry passengers or freight
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 15: Vans for transporting children under the Motor Vehicle Management Act
Factories with a total floor area of 1,000 square meters or more
Detailed rules
The vehicle is a no-smoking zone.
Designated no-smoking zones
Factories with a total floor area of 1,000 square meters or more
Detailed rules
The entire factory is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted inside the building.
Outdoor smoking facilities may be installed and operated, but smoking is not allowed within 10 meters of the building’s exterior walls or of spaces such as emergency exits.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 7: Building Act, factories with a total floor area of 300 square meters or more
Detailed rules
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted inside the building.
A smoking room may not be installed separately inside the building.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 19: Tourist accommodation businesses under the Tourism Promotion Act
Detailed rules
Smoking is prohibited in shared areas such as separate twin rooms or shared guest rooms, lobbies, hallways, and halls.
Guest rooms for which an individual’s age is the main criterion are not designated as no-smoking zones in their entirety; ancillary facilities such as bedrooms are subject to the law when they are within the business premises.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 20: Sports facilities that can seat 1,000 or more spectators under the Installation and Utilization of Sports Facilities Act
Detailed rules
The entire facility is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted within the facility.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 12: Social welfare facilities under the Social Welfare Services Act
Detailed rules
The entire facility is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 22: Public bathhouses under the Public Health Act
Detailed rules
The entire facility is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 23: Youth game arcades, general game arcades, and internet computer game facilities under the Game Industry Promotion Act
Detailed rules
The entire premises is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted.
Under the law, all game-related spaces may be designated as no-smoking zones.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 24: Among food businesses under the Food Sanitation Act, snack bars, general restaurants, and bakeries, food retailers under the same Act, and business premises of drinking water dealers under the Drinking Water Management Act
Detailed rules
The entire business premises is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted outside the premises.
Designated no-smoking zones
Subparagraph 25: Comic book rental shops under the Juvenile Protection Act
Detailed rules
The entire business premises is a no-smoking zone, with no-smoking signs posted inside the premises.
Law as of: 2026-04-30 · Last reviewed: 2026-10-22
Based on the National Health Promotion Act as in force · Enforcement Decree effective 2026-03-19, Enforcement Rule effective 2025-10-02, Tobacco Business Act effective 2026-04-24
What is the fine for smoking in a no-smoking zone?
Under subparagraph 2 of Article 34 (3) of the National Health Promotion Act, a person who smokes in a no-smoking zone is subject to a fine of up to 100,000 won. Under the imposition standards in Annex 5 of the Enforcement Decree, the fine is 100,000 won for no-smoking zones in public-use facilities (Article 9 (4) of the Act) and for no-smoking zones within 30 meters of the boundaries of kindergartens, daycare centers, and elementary, middle, and high schools (Article 9 (6) of the Act), and 50,000 won for no-smoking zones in apartment complexes (Article 9 (5) of the Act). For no-smoking zones designated by local government ordinance (Article 9 (7) of the Act), the amount set by that ordinance applies, up to 100,000 won. The fine may be reduced or waived if the person receives education or smoking cessation support services (Article 34 (5) of the Act).
Are e-cigarettes also banned in no-smoking zones?
Article 9 (8) of the National Health Promotion Act provides that no one may smoke in a designated no-smoking zone, and it makes no exception based on the type of tobacco. Subparagraph 1 of Article 2 of the Tobacco Business Act defines tobacco as a product made wholly or partly from leaf tobacco or nicotine and manufactured in a form suitable for smoking, sucking, inhaling as vapor, chewing, or sniffing. Article 23 (1) of the National Health Promotion Act also classifies e-cigarettes as a type of tobacco.
Can parts of an apartment complex (multi-unit housing) be designated as a no-smoking zone?
Yes. Under Article 9 (5) of the National Health Promotion Act, if at least half of the households in an apartment complex apply to have all or part of its hallways, stairways, elevators, and underground parking lots designated as no-smoking zones, the mayor, county head, or district head (including the Mayor of a Special Self-Governing City and the Governor of a Special Self-Governing Province) must designate those areas as no-smoking zones and put up signs. The application must include documents proving that at least half of the heads of households have consented, and only consent given within three months before the application date is accepted (Article 6-2 (1) of the Enforcement Rule). Smoking in a designated apartment no-smoking zone is subject to a fine of 50,000 won (Annex 5 of the Enforcement Decree).
Can owners or managers of facilities designated as no-smoking zones be fined if they do not meet their obligations?
Owners, occupants, or managers of public-use facilities under Article 9 (4) of the National Health Promotion Act must designate the entire facility as a no-smoking zone and put up signs indicating the no-smoking zone. If they fail to do so, the mayor, county head, or district head may order corrective action within a set period (Article 9 (9) of the Act), and failure to comply with that order is subject to a fine of up to 5,000,000 won (subparagraph 2 of Article 34 (1) of the Act). Under the imposition standards in Annex 5 of the Enforcement Decree, the fine is 1,700,000 won for a first violation, 3,300,000 won for a second violation, and 5,000,000 won for a third or subsequent violation.
This information is for reference only. Please check the relevant laws for the exact legal text.
National Health Promotion Act
Ministry of Government Legislation, National Law Information Center