Korea Celebrates No Tobacco Day
May 31st is World No Tobacco Day, an annual event designated by the World Health Organization to educate people of the health risks associated with nicotine.Korea’s health ministry and 200 other civil participants gathered at the Korea Press Center in Seoul to celebrate the day and to act against smoking.Some of the nation’s favorite celebrities were also invited to persuade the growing number of smoking teenagers to just say no to tobacco.
[Interview : ] “110 people die from smoking every day. We are also taking price policy into consideration, should all other anti-smoking measures fail.”
During an hour long ceremony, companies that have achieved a remarkable smoke free environment, including Posco and Lotte, were awarded by the minister and various anti-smoking commercials that depict graphic consequences of smoking were screened.
The health ministry focused particularly on women, saying that the number of women smokers in Korea is on the rise, up from 6.6 percent in 1998 to 7.4 percent in 2008.
Everyone knows that smoking is bad, but the way of tackling second-hand smoke is sparking disputes.
Last week, the Seoul city government banned smoking in designated public spaces with fines of up to 100 thousand won, or about 80 US dollars.
And some are not happy about it.
[Interview : ] “I hope smokers’ rights can be respected as much as non-smokers’ rights. An 80 dollar fine is too much.”
“Enlightment instead of punishment is the right way to stop more people from smoking. Imposing fines is an uncivilized method.”
The Constitutional Court of Korea had ruled in 2008 that the right to live outweighs the right to smoke, giving non-smokers an upper hand.
Nonetheless, the government’s toughened anti-smoking measures is quickly becoming a social ‘hot potato.’
“The debate can go on for nights, but with tobacco being the single greatest cause of preventable deaths worldwide, it seems wise for smokers to cut down their nicotine consumption, for others and themselves. Han Da-eun, Arirang News.”