Looking at Tobacco in A New Light in Korea

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 09/16/2009

Korea's cigarette industry could face a future of higher taxes, graphic warnings and bans on descriptors such as 'mild' and 'light', according to a report in The Korea Times. Representative, Jeon Hae-sook, of the main opposition Democratic Party, is scheduled to propose taking regulation of tobacco from under the Tobacco Business Act and placing it under the National Health Promotion Act. Essentially, tobacco would move from being seen as a business opportunity and taxation resource to being seen as a health problem. However, the existing system already straddles both of these ideas. A WON2,500 pack of cigarettes includes a WON1,550 tax and other surcharges for health promotion, waste disposal etc. Enditem