Smoking Guidelines
You can smoke in South Korea, but like many other countries, there are areas where smoking is and is not permitted in order to keep from disturbing non-smokers. Up until recently, Koreans were allowed to smoke in rooms specifically closed off for smokers in restaurants with liquor licenses, and some cafes.
But on January 1st, 2015, South Korea completely banned smoking in all bars, restaurants, and cafes regardless of the size of the business. In South Korea, smoking rooms are now obsolete, just like in the West. At least when you travel to South Korea, there are no new rules to learn here.