Seoul's Seongdong-gu (Mayor Yu Bo-hwa) announced today (September 8) that the cumulative number of users for its "Seongdong-style smart smoking booths" has surpassed 10 million in about 3 years and 9 months.

Since piloting the first booth in front of D-Tower in Seongsu-dong in November 2022, the district has been operating a total of 14 such facilities, centering around knowledge industry centers and major subway stations.

A district official stated, "This has led to practical effects in reducing public inconvenience caused by secondhand smoke on the streets," adding, "In the area near Seoul Forest The Sharp, complaints related to secondhand smoke have plummeted to near-zero levels since the booth was installed."

Equipped with a powerful negative pressure design to block cigarette smoke from leaking outside, the booths feature inside an air purification system, air conditioning and heating units, automatic fire-extinguishing and crushing ashtrays, emergency bells and CCTVs, and IPTVs displaying subway operation information and district news.

Seongdong-gu Mayor Yu Bo-hwa said, "We will continue to closely examine everyday inconveniences faced by residents and build an urban environment where everyone can live comfortably through smart technology."

(Photo provided by Seongdong-gu, Yonhap News)