According to a report by News1 on January 16, the South Korean government’s plan to reduce the smoking rate among adult men to 25% by 2030 may face difficult challenges. According to one study, to achieve this goal, the government may need to comprehensively strengthen anti-smoking policies this year and increase cigarette prices to 8,000 won per pack, or an annual increase of 10%.
According to data from the Korean Anti-Smoking Association, the current smoking rate among adult men is 31.3%, which is much higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of 8.3%. The expert research team found through the SimSmoke model that if existing policies are not changed, the smoking rate may rise to 32.24% by 2030, failing to achieve the goals set by the government.
The research team believes that comprehensively strengthening non-price policies is an effective way to achieve the goal. By expanding the no-smoking area to the entire indoor area, and through legal supervision and policy promotion, it is expected that the smoking rate will be reduced to 29.7% by 2030. However, the best way to achieve the goal may be through a combination of non-price policies and higher cigarette prices.
The team pointed out: "Setting up no-smoking areas and banning tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship are the most effective non-price policies. A comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and promotion may reduce the smoking rate to less than 30%." In addition, they also recommended that cigarette smoking be increased year by year. prices to drive smoking rates down. If the price of cigarettes is raised to 8,000 won per pack this year, the smoking rate is expected to drop to 24.6% by 2030.
However, the research team also emphasized that public understanding of rising cigarette prices must be enhanced to build a base of support and promote more active and bold policies. They call on governments to consider price and non-price policies to achieve 2030 anti-smoking targets, improve health equity and reduce smoking rates.
