Seodaemun-gu Bans Single-Use Cups at District Cafés

Starting on August 3, Seodaemun‑gu (Seoul) will eliminate disposable paper cups in its four district‑run cafés, including the popular Cafe Pongpo. Customers dining in will be required to use reusable mugs or ice‑cups, while take‑out and terrace guests will continue to receive single‑use cups.

The district reported that 46,900 paper cups were used at Cafe Pongpo over a 16‑month period (March 2025 – June 2026), averaging about 30,000 per month. The policy is part of Mayor Park Un‑gi’s “carbon‑neutrality in daily life” initiative. New dish‑washing and sanitising equipment has been installed, and kiosk ordering screens have been updated to distinguish in‑store versus take‑out service. The administration is also exploring partnerships with social‑enterprise cup‑cleaning firms to eventually extend reusable cups to take‑out customers.

Mayor Park said, “The climate crisis is not a distant future problem; it is a reality we must act on now, and the public sector should lead by example.” The move aims to turn a high‑traffic tourist spot into a model of environmental stewardship.