[Masup story] In South Korea, littering on the streets can result in a fine of $700?

Today, we are talking about a scary fine warning in Korea. I heard that if you accidentally throw your trash on the street, you will be fined $700, is that true?

 

In South Korea, littering on the streets can result in a fine of $700?

If you travel to or temporarily live in South Korea, you will notice that the streets are generally kept very clean.

It's difficult to find litter on the ground. Occasionally, you might see a disposable drink cup lying around, but for the most part, the cities are maintained without trash.

 

Unlike many places abroad, there are no trash bins on the streets in South Korea. As a result, people walking around have to make one of two choices:

1. Throw their trash anywhere.
2. Either don’t carry anything that could become trash or hold onto their waste until they find a place to dispose of it.

 

Koreans generally choose the second option. If trash is generated indoors, they either dispose of it there or carry it with them until they find a place to throw it away.

This behavior might be difficult for foreigners to understand.



In the past, there were trash bins on the streets of South Korea. However, having bins often led to overflowing trash around them, creating very unsanitary conditions.

People would carelessly leave larger items, like old sofas or broken appliances, next to the bins, turning the area into a mountain of trash until the cleaners arrived.

This created a vicious cycle.

Thus, South Korea underwent a change in mindset.

The solution was to remove trash bins from the streets.

 

Most people expected complaints and inconvenience with this approach, but citizens gradually realized that it was revolutionary in keeping the streets clean.

Of course, this was possible because of a cultural tradition rooted in the unique collective morality of Koreans.

If people see someone littering on the street, many faces will likely show disapproval. It’s considered a very undesirable action that violates social norms.

Since everyone collectively fosters this social atmosphere, most Koreans find it difficult to accept behaviors that inconvenience others.

Some people abroad might say that the cleanliness and safety of the streets in Korea are maintained due to the abundance of CCTV cameras.

As a Korean, I can confidently say that this interpretation is completely off-base.

Have you ever seen a fine warning sign like the one below while walking on the streets of Korea?

"폐기물 관리법 제68조 제3항에 따라 쓰레기 투기 시 최대 100만 원의 벌금이 부과됩니다."

The sign states:

“A fine of up to 1 million won for littering (according to Article 68, Paragraph 3 of the Waste Management Act).”

This means that if you litter on the street, you could face a fine of up to $700.

 

Isn’t it alarming that throwing away just one piece of trash could cost $700?

The reason South Korean streets are clean is not due to CCTV cameras or these fine regulations.

 

For instance, even if someone is caught littering on CCTV, it doesn’t mean that they will be tracked down and fined for such a trivial act.

 

In fact, fines are rarely impos.

 

Logically, it would be nearly impossible to allocate the time, manpower, and costs required to identify a single person who littered.

CCTV is mostly used for serious crimes. The fine warning posters are merely there for precaution.

 After the removal of trash bins, an unspoken rule emerged in South Korea that littering on the streets is unacceptable.

This is something that is difficult to replicate in countries outside of Korea, such as Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, due to Korea's unique historical and cultural bonds.

 

 In other words, the fine posters are just simple warnings—nothing more and nothing less.

 Interestingly, in South Korea, if a theft occurs, it can even make the main news, while such incidents are often considered commonplace in other countries and don’t warrant news coverage.

 This demonstrates how Korea has cultivated its own unique traditional environment and culture. Koreans are a people who do not fear positive change.

Koreans have a strong awareness of what thoughts and actions can benefit everyone.

“Neither you nor I should steal; that’s the best solution for both of us.”

“Neither you nor I should litter; that’s the cleanest approach.”

Most Koreans think this way.

 

Today, I’ve explained from a Korean perspective why our streets are clean. I hope you found it interesting.

I’ll return with a more engaging topic next time. Thank you!