Korea to ban free disposable plastic cups at cafes, restaurants

Coffee is served in a single-use plastic cup at a cafe in Seoul on Thursday (Dec 18). South Korea plans to unveil a comprehensive anti-plastic policy next week, which will include measures to ban the free provision of disposable plastic cups and require customers to purchase them instead, government officials said Wednesday. - Photo: Yonhap

SEOUL: The government will move to end the free provision of disposable plastic cups at cafes and restaurants as part of its plastic reduction measures, Environment Minister Kim Sung-whan said during the Wednesday (Dec 17) briefing to President Lee Jae Myung at Government Complex Sejong.

People will be required to pay a separate fee for disposable plastic cups, which are currently provided free of charge.