The government will launch a program designed to encourage smokers to quit smoking through education. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, June 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare has a bit of welcome news for smokers who are caught smoking in non-smoking areas and face the risk of paying a huge fine.
Starting from Thursday, smokers will see their fines reduced by 50 percent if they attend anti-smoking education classes.
In addition, smokers can be fully exempted from paying a fine if they participate in anti-smoking support services such as anti-smoking treatment and consultations.
The government announced on Wednesday that it will launch a program designed to encourage smokers to quit smoking through education.
This move came after the revision of the enforcement ordinance of the National Health Promotion Act passed during a Cabinet meeting on May 26.
The ministry came up with this program as part of its efforts to promote the use of anti-smoking education and anti-smoking support services.
Smokers can benefit from this program by submitting an application to the heads of the municipal government where they reside.
Anti-smoking education should be taken within one month of submitting the application and anti-smoking support services should be taken within six months.
However, smokers in arrears of fines and penalties cannot benefit from this program.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
