韩媒：韩国拟对一次性杯子单独收费

Core Viewpoint - The South Korean government is implementing a "separate pricing system for disposable cups," which prohibits cafes and restaurants from providing disposable cups for free, requiring customers to pay an additional fee for their use [1] Group 1: Policy Details - The new regulation aims to reduce the consumption of disposable cups through a paid usage mechanism, encouraging consumers to use reusable cups instead [1] - The draft proposal for this policy will be announced on the 23rd of this month [1] - The previous deposit system required customers to pay a deposit of 300 KRW (approximately 0.48 RMB) for disposable cups, which was criticized for being cumbersome and ineffective in promoting environmental goals [1] Group 2: Pricing and Implementation - The new system will not include a refund mechanism, contrasting with the previous deposit system that emphasized recycling [1] - Businesses will have the autonomy to set their own pricing for disposable cups, but a minimum charge will be established to prevent the system from being ineffective [1] - The expected pricing for disposable cups is projected to be between 100 to 200 KRW [1] Group 3: Controversy and Criticism - The policy has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that charging separately for cups does not directly correlate with reducing plastic consumption or improving recycling rates [1] - There are concerns that the actual cost burden on consumers may increase, as beverage prices previously included the cost of cups [1]