On the 25th November, the Wonju branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group carried out regular volunteer work to clean up the natural environment around Wonju Express Bus Terminal in Dangye neighbourhood.

The Rose Park and Wonju Express Bus Terminal areas, which have a large floating population, are places where citizens continue to complain about the littering of cigarette butts and various household waste.

Accordingly, members of the Wonju branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group worked hard to carry out the regular 'Green Nature' environmental clean-up volunteer work in these areas.

First, 30 volunteers, who wanted to provide a pleasant environment for citizens, picked up about 300 litres of rubbish along a 1.2km section that day. Refuse bags were provided by the Wonju Volunteer Centre.

In particular, the Wonju Branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group not only completed its activities by simply cleaning up the environment, but also launched a campaign to ban cigarette littering with citizens.

According to the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, a nationwide survey of household waste showed that cigarette butts ranked first among all litter. There was also time to communicate about what cigarettes are made of and their role in ensuring clean oceans.

This is because when plastic cigarette butts flow into the sea, they decompose into microplastics and have a negative impact on the marine ecosystem.

Accordingly, the Wonju branch carefully informed citizens that cigarettes are made of plastic, not clean paper, which is the main culprit of pollution not only to the human body but also to the environment, and that the start of clean oceans is a ban on the littering of cigarettes.

Eun-ji Kim (28, female), who was passing through the terminal, said, “I thought smoking was only bad for the body, but it is also having a huge impact on the environment, so I need to raise awareness.” She continued, “I hope to raise awareness about the anti-cigarette littering campaign in the future so that it can be improved - I must do this.” She added, “I've friends around me who smoke, so I'll be telling them not to throw away their cigarette butts carelessly. I hope campaigns like this happen more often.”

An official from the Wonju branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group said, “We conducted environmental clean-up services to create a more pleasant environment and safer streets for the region and our neighbours. We plan to actively promote this campaign to prevent cigarette butts from being carelessly thrown away and protect the environment.”