Euljiro 1-ga & Myeongdong Smoking Areas — 7 Spots Beside Lotte Department Store and Hana Bank HQ (Map)
Seven registered smoking areas are clustered along the 400 m stretch from Euljiro 1-ga Station toward Myeongdong. Large department stores and the head offices of financial companies stand side by side here, so many of the designated spots are on the sides of buildings. This is a very busy pedestrian area, so almost everywhere outside the designated spots is non-smoking and enforcement is frequent — use only spots with signs. Euljiro 1-ga Station and Myeongdong Hana Play Park are 369 m apart, so they are covered together on one page.
※ ● Red pin = smoking area · ● Orange pin = cigarette butt bin · ● Blue = your location · Pins are approximate, so also check the exit and gate directions in the text.
Dark red pins = smoking areas on this page · Light pink = other smoking areas (tap for details) · Tap the Find smoking areas near me button above (or ◎ on the map) to list the closest places below.
All smoking areas (7)
- Euljiro 1-ga Station Exit 8 (을지로입구역 8번출구) — Partially enclosed · Jung-gu public data · reference point for distances on this page (west end)
을지로입구역 8번출구 Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao) - Side of Lotte Department Store, 30 Eulji-ro (롯데백화점 측면부) — Partially open · about 140 m west of Exit 8
롯데백화점 측면부 (을지로 30) Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao) - Side of KEB Hana Bank HQ, 35 Eulji-ro (KEB하나은행 본점 측면부) — Partially open · about 170 m north of Exit 8
KEB하나은행 본점 측면부 (을지로 35) Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao) - Side of Hana Card HQ (하나카드본사 측면부) — Partially enclosed · about 290 m east of Exit 8
하나카드본사 측면부 Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao) - Myeongdong Hana Play Park (명동 하나플레이파크) — Partially open · about 370 m east of Exit 8
명동 하나플레이파크 Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao) - Front of Janggyo Building, 363 Samil-daero (장교빌딩 전면부) — Partially open · about 230 m north of Hana Play Park
장교빌딩 전면부 (삼일대로 363) Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao) - Rest area on the plaza in front of the Bank of Korea (한국은행 앞 광장 쉼터) — Partially open · about 460 m southwest of Exit 8
한국은행 앞 광장 쉼터 Open in Google Maps Road view (Kakao)
Tap a name to jump to its pin on the map. Korean names are shown too, so you can match them with signs and map apps on site.
Right by Euljiro 1-ga Station — Exit 8 and the side of Lotte Department Store
The spot you can use as soon as you come out of the station is the Exit 8 area. It is partially enclosed, with some walls and a roof, so it offers some shelter from rain. About 140 m west, there is a partially open area on the side of Lotte Department Store (30 Eulji-ro), and the side of KEB Hana Bank HQ (35 Eulji-ro), about 170 m north, is the same type. All three are on the sides of buildings rather than on the main road, so they are easy to miss if you only look at the front entrances. Tap a pin on the map above and check which side of the building it is on in road view first to avoid getting lost.
Toward Myeongdong — Hana Play Park and Hana Card HQ
Walking toward Myeongdong, there is the side of Hana Card HQ (partially enclosed) about 290 m east and Myeongdong Hana Play Park (partially open) about 370 m east. Another 230 m north of Hana Play Park is the front of Janggyo Building (363 Samil-daero), which is closer if you are heading toward Cheonggyecheon. The Myeongdong shopping area is extremely crowded in the evening and the areas can get busy, so when it is packed it is easier for everyone to move to an area a block over.
The Bank of Korea plaza rest area to the southwest
About 460 m southwest of Exit 8, there is also a partially open area at the rest area on the plaza in front of the Bank of Korea. It is closer if you are heading down toward Namdaemun Market or Hoehyeon. For Seoul Station to the south, 6 spots by exit are listed in the Seoul Station guide.
Where to dispose of cigarette butts
There is one registered cigarette butt bin in this area, in front of 35 Cheonggyecheon-ro (about 500 m from Exit 8). Many of the areas have ashtrays, so please use them; if there are none, please use a portable ashtray. Myeongdong and Euljiro have narrow sidewalks and lots of people, so butts dropped on the ground stand out right away. This site is not meant to encourage smoking; it was made to show both where you can smoke and where to dispose of butts. If people can't find a designated area and smoke on the street, they run into non-smokers, and butts thrown on the ground clog storm drains and worsen flooding or lead to fires and ocean pollution. The location information on this page was collected for the same purpose, so please be sure to put your butts in an ashtray or a bin.
Things to note
Jung-gu designates major downtown streets as no-smoking streets, so smoking outside the designated areas is likely to be subject to enforcement. Under the National Health Promotion Act, a fine of up to 100,000 won may be imposed, and littering cigarette butts may carry a 50,000 won fine. Areas on the sides of buildings may move or disappear depending on the building's circumstances.
FAQ
Where is the closest smoking area to Euljiro 1-ga Station?
The Exit 8 area is the closest, and since it is partially enclosed it is less affected by the weather. The side of Lotte Department Store, about 140 m west, is also close.
Where can I smoke in Myeongdong?
Two areas are registered: Myeongdong Hana Play Park and the side of Hana Card HQ. The front of Janggyo Building, about 230 m north, is another option.
Will I be fined for smoking on the street?
Downtown Jung-gu has many no-smoking street sections, so smoking outside the designated areas may be subject to a fine of up to 100,000 won.
Is there a cigarette butt bin nearby?
One is registered in front of 35 Cheonggyecheon-ro. Please use the ashtrays in the areas first.
Smoking rules in Korea
Smoking in a no-smoking zone can lead to a fine, and heated tobacco and e-cigarettes are treated the same way. See Korea's smoking rules for distances and amounts.