By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
An antismoking association has been launched for the first time here to academically and scientifically inform people of the harmful aspects of smoking.
The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs announced Friday the launch of the association, which will study antismoking polices and define the scientific background for antismoking campaigns.
It will hold its first meeting on Nov. 19 with the participation of experts in the fields of modern and Oriental medicine, nursing science, sociology, economics and psychology.
``Smoking causes health problems to nonsmokers as well as smokers and it is recognized as a serious problem. That urged us to address the issue from a scientific and academic viewpoint through the antismoking association,'' an official said.