South Korea: Billiard Clubs Are Smokers'' Paradise

Source from:  Korea Times (kr) 01/21/2015

As the smoking ban has expanded to include all bars, restaurants, coffee shops and Internet cafes, places such as billiard rooms and indoor simulator golf driving ranges are experiencing an influx of smokers.

Currently, smoking is allowed in small-scale indoor sport venues. However, a health ministry official said calls are mounting for the smoking ban to be extended to include such venues by 2016. Approximately 15,000 billiard rooms and 7,000 screen golf venues operate across the country, according to the ministry.

In a billiard hall in Sinchon, Seoul, Monday, a smoker surnamed Ha, 38, said the smoking ban forced him to go there.

"Now, it looks like this is the only place where I can smoke and hang out with friends," Ha said. "This place is crowded. I saw a couple of groups leaving because the room is too full."

The recent popularity has drawn a mixed reaction from owners. Most of them welcome the rising number of customers, but some have complaints. "Not all customers are smokers. Non-smoking customers dislike smoking customers," said a billiard hall owner, surnamed Lee. "I hope the smoking ban will arrive soon so that it will draw more non-smokers in." Enditem