Science and Health

Smoking population grows in S. Korea in 2009

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-05 16:23

SEOUL: More South Korean adults smoked last year, with the smoking rate for adults in the second half of 2009 climbing up to 23.3 percent from 22.3 percent a year earlier, a government survey showed Tuesday.

The smoking rate among South Korean men stood at 43.1 percent at the end of the last year, up from 40.9 percent a year earlier, while the rate of female smokers inched down to 3.9 from 4.1 during the same period, according to Seoul's Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs.

Of the 3,000 people aged 19 and older who participated in the survey, 59.1 percent of the respondents said smoking has become a habit, and 32.6 percent cited stress as a reason for smoking.

At the same time, 68.8 percent of the respondents said they tried to quit smoking at least once, on health-related concerns.

"Experts say there are various factors contributing to the increase, including the economic downturn," a health ministry official told Xinhua.

The smoking rate once dropped in 2005 following a hike in cigarette prices and expanded non-smoking areas, but the effects of such measures have gradually decreased, the official said.

"We will launch a strong anti-smoking drive this year, so that the rate would go down again," the official added.

The health ministry plans to designate internet cafes, parks, hospitals and other public facilities as non-smoking areas and beef up regulations on cigarette marketing, as part of its efforts for more aggressive campaign against smoking, the ministry said.