The 'outdoor dining' practice, which has been caught between enforcement and circumvention, is set to be regulated in Seoul's Jung-gu district. The district is moving to amend ordinances to allow cooking in outdoor dining areas to support small business operations.
The aim is to resolve ongoing conflicts related to outdoor cooking and unauthorized road occupation while establishing safety and hygiene standards for formal recognition.
On October 23, Jung-gu (Mayor Kim Gil-seong) announced the initiation of the ordinance amendment process, which will permit food preparation in outdoor dining areas. Once implemented, outdoor cooking will be allowed in traditional markets, alley-style shopping districts, and tourist zones that are distanced from residential areas, minimizing environmental concerns.
Under current food hygiene laws, general and snack restaurants can only serve food that has been prepared indoors, even when operating outdoors. However, in response to the increasing trend of local governments permitting outdoor cooking and the growing popularity of outdoor dining, regulations will be relaxed to better reflect reality.
To prevent indiscriminate safety incidents, cooking methods will be limited to simple heating processes such as grilling or boiling. Only portable and embedded burners, induction cookers, charcoal, and solid ethanol fuel will be permitted.
Additionally, reflecting the input from the Central Fire Station, the amendment will mandate the installation of fire extinguishers in outdoor dining areas and clearly define fire safety obligations, including ensuring access for fire trucks and evacuation routes.
The move to revise regulations comes in response to ineffective enforcement and a cycle of evasion surrounding outdoor dining operations.
In principle, setting up makeshift tables on the street constitutes illegal road occupation. However, despite local government enforcement efforts, the profits from outdoor dining often outweigh the fines (up to 1.5 million won), leading to repeated violations.
In Jongno-gu, for instance, 30 establishments were caught operating outdoor dining without proper permits in the first half of this year (January to June), along with 11 road law violations and 329 fines for illegal waste disposal.
As a result, voices advocating for formalization through regulation rather than blanket enforcement have emerged both within and outside local governments. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also pledged to legalize outdoor dining and promote nighttime economic activities during the June 3 local elections.
Through this ordinance amendment, Jung-gu plans to allow outdoor dining only for those who have obtained permission to occupy public land, and will delineate the area of operation as needed to maximize the effectiveness of administrative guidance and inspections. The amendment is expected to be announced in December following a legislative notice period.
Mayor Kim Gil-seong stated, "This is the result of proactive administration that reflects the voices from the field, adjusting regulations to fit reality. We aim to alleviate the burdens on small business owners while applying strict hygiene and fire safety standards to create a model for outdoor dining unique to Jung-gu."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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