KB News Desk
Smoking or drinking along Cheonggyecheon, a popular stream in downtown Seoul, could result in fines of up to 100,000 won ($70), starting this year.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday its plans to designate the entire 8.12-kilometer stretch of the stream as a no-smoking, no-drinking zone by the end of 2026, backed by legal authority to issue fines.
The city’s tougher stance comes after a string of reports of visitors drinking, smoking and bathing in the stream.
Under current administrative guidelines, the mayor can issue advisories against fishing, swimming, bathing, smoking and drinking in the stream to protect public safety. But those guidelines lack legal weight, leaving patrol officers unable to fine or regulate such behavior.
Under the proposed changes, however, these behaviors will be legally prohibited, giving patrol personnel the authority to issue fines for violations.
The designated area spans from the beginning of the stream in Cheonggyecheon Plaza to where it meets with Jungnangcheon, another stream in northeastern Seoul. The rule will apply to the walking paths along the stream, accessible via staircases or ramps, but not to the streets and sidewalks above it.
“The current system only allows safety patrols to advise and guide the public,” a city official said. “But once the new restriction takes effect, the four districts will be able to enforce the rules.”
The city will also revise regulations to ban swimming and bathing in the stream.
Cheonggyecheon, restored as part of a 2005 urban renewal project, has become a green haven in downtown Seoul, offering residents relief from summer heat while drawing steady tourist traffic.
But recently improper behavior along the stream has drawn scrutiny. Local media reported a Chinese tourist smoking by the stream on August 3. On July 19, a man and a woman were seen wading in to collect coins from a wishing pond that are reserved for collection by the city.
