The government said Friday it will strictly crackdown on violators of basic public rules, such as people who smoke in no-smoking areas and taxi drivers that cheat customers.

In a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Lee Han-dong on the improvement of national discipline, the attending ministers agreed to implement new government measures as early as possible to increase public respect for law and order.

The ministers also concurred that measures should be created to keep conglomerates and large department stores from infringing upon the rights of small businesses and shops.

The measures are aimed at creating a more orderly environment ahead of Visit Korea Year 2001 and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

To help speed the effectiveness of the government's law enforcement activities, two companies of special police troops will be stationed in major metropolitan cities and provinces.