SimSmoke Model Evaluation of the Effect of Tobacco Control Policies in Korea: The Unknown Success Story

Abstract

Our results document Korea's success in reducing smoking prevalence and prolonging lives, which may serve as an example for other Asian nations. Further improvements may be possible with higher taxes and more comprehensive smoke-free laws, cessation policies, advertising restrictions, and health warnings.

MPOWER, needs and challenges: trends in the implementation of the WHO FCTC in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

“…This package focuses on 6 evidence-based measures that have been found to have the greatest effect on reducing tobacco consumption, namely: Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies; Protecting people from tobacco smoke; Offering help to quit tobacco use; Warning about the dangers of tobacco; Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and Raising taxes on tobacco (2). Global experience shows that implementation of these measures reduces tobacco consumption and its harmful health effects (5)(6)(7).…”

Policy Effects of Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Places in the Republic of Korea: Evidence from PM2.5levels and Air Nicotine Concentrations

“…After 1995, the number of smoke-free settings was gradually expanded to include public baths in 1999; youth arcades, game rooms, large restaurants, comic book stores, government buildings, and nursery schools in 2003; and factories, local government buildings, and indoor work places in 2006. In 2010 and 2012, the National Health Promotion Act was again revised, expanding the designation of nonsmoking areas to include restaurants and game rooms, as well as some outdoor areas such as public parks, streets, bus stations, and other public places (Levy et al, 2010;Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2010). However, the smoke-free policies in Korea still don't apply to entertainment venues such as bars and pubs, where smokefree policies are urgently needed.…”

Health and Economic Burden of Major Cancers Due to Smoking in Korea

“…For example, in Japan and the United States, changes of a similar nature have taken more than 20 years to occur (Park et al, 2009). This abrupt change in Korea is mainly attributed to the Korean government's tobacco control policy, which was launched in 1995 (Park et al, 2009;Levy et al, 2010).…”

“…Although Korean government's tobacco control policy has been found to have been successful in decreasing the smoking rate (Park et al, 2009;Levy et al, 2010), the effect of the policy appears to have lessened recently (KCDC and MOHW, 2011). Considering the substantial health and economic burden of cancers due to smoking in Korea, adequate policy and investments are still needed to decrease the prevalence of smoking, and should specifically target the increasing prevalence of smoking in women.…”