Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Smoke-free Dining:
September tourist festivals
O Kitchen 2, Itaewon
Tel: 797-6420
Where: Chungmuro, Seoul By Tiffany Candlish and I’m the owner.” Most of the change is inevitable.
Chungmuro, which runs through the heart of Seoul, is Healthy in the City their smoking clientele accepts Smoking is commonly associ- Buddha’s Belly Take Away,
widely regarded as a symbolic street for Korean cinema and Seoul is a smoker’s paradise. this policy. ated with Asian culture. In Itaewon 2-dong: 793-2173
remains the Mecca of the Korean film industry. A total of 170 While other cities have com- Sadly, as a non-smoker, there The decision to ban smoking China more than 60 percent of
Buddha’s Belly Restaurant and
films from 40 countries, including the latest in digital motion pletely banned smoking in bars are few options for a smoke free in their restaurants was a re- men smoke, with more starting Lounge,
pictures, will be screened at major theaters throughout Seoul and restaurants, many here night out in Seoul (unless you flection of current global culi- each year. That said, Singapore, Itaewon (smoke free until 10:00
and other venues, including Seoul Plaza and Namsangol don’t even have a non-smoking want to go to a big international nary trends. Even foodie capi- Thailand and North Korea — of p.m.) Tel: 796-9330
Hanok Village. section. For those who don’t chain like Outback or TGI tals, such as New York and all places — have made huge
For further information call 02-2236-6231 or go to smoke, this can be more than Friday). That being said, of the Paris, are opting for smoke-free steps toward becoming non- Istanbul, Itaewon (smoke free
http://www.chiffs.kr annoying at times. options available, there are legislation. As Susumu aptly smoking countries. On a recent until 8:00 p.m.)
As someone who finally freed some good finds. said, “If the French can do it, trip to Singapore, I was amazed Tel: 796-0271
herself from a nicotine addiction O Kitchen is an oasis for the then anyone can.” by the clean air in bars and
Cheongju Jikji Festival Wild Wasabi, Hongdae
eight months ago, this writer is non-smoker. With two locations Buddha’s Belly (in Itaewon) restaurants. Tel: 323-3674
only too well aware of the diffi- in Seoul (Gahoe-dong and has opted for a smoke-free envi- The argument against going
When: Sept. 4-7 culty in finding information Itaewon-dong), it is a great find. ronment as well. The original, smoke-free that is often made Thai Garden, Itaewon
Where: Cheongju Arts Hall and Cheongju Early about smoke-free dining. Both venues are 100 percent smaller location is 100 percent by bar and restaurant owners is Tel: 792-8836
Printing Museum Although I like to think of my- smoke free, even though non-smoking, while the that non-smoking policies are
Jikji, the world’s oldest text printed with metal type, has self as something of a Google Susumu Yonaguni, the co-pro- Restaurant and Lounge is bad for business. SM Vegetarian Buffet, Yangae
been designated by UNESCO as a Memory of the World ar- master, I found little of use on prietor is a smoker himself. smoke free during dining hours, The experience of the owners Tel: 576-9637
tifact. the internet on this topic. Susumu, who co-owns with his but allows smoking after 10 of both O Kitchen and Buddha’s
Meatpacker (smoke free until
Cheongju, home to the world’s oldest movable metal Despite the current “Every- wife Oh Jang-mi, told The p.m. Belly, contradict this point of 5:00p.m), Itaewon
type, has held the Jikji Festival since 2003 as part of body Say No” campaign, neither Korea Herald, “This is a space “We felt that a lot of our cus- view. While a total ban on smok- Tel: 797-7758
plans to develop the city into a “center of printing culture” the local government, nor the for every one. Non-smokers tomers preferred it,” Darrell ing in public places may be im-
like Germany’s Mainz, and to promote Jikji around the tourism hotlines offer a list of have the right to enjoy our Mahoney said. “Even as smok- possible or unlikely in the near Seocho Sariwon, Seocho
world. nonsmoking venues. Research space. ers, we preferred to dine in a future, it would be nice to see Tel: 3474-5005
Programs include taking part in ancient printing methods, for this column had to be done “When people ask about our non-smoking environment.” some more non-smoking sec-
performances of traditional plays and music, “Big 5” con- the old-fashioned way, by going smoking policy, I tell them that Mahoney and his business tions open. Outback Steakhouse,
certs, tight rope walking and exhibitions of old printed texts. out into the real world. even I have to smoke outside partner, Kim Tae-eung, feel that (ms.tiff@gmail.com) ubiquitous
For more information, call 043-277-5767 or visit the website
www.jikjifestival.com