Hookah smoking spreading in Seoul areas

The hookah, a water pipe for smoking, is spreading. A water pipe has a long tube passing through water which cools the smoke as it goes through. Smoking with hookah is worse than regular cigarettes because people use a water pipe to smoke for a longer period of time.

While a single cigarette lasts for only about five minutes, a water pipe is used for 30-45 minutes. A hookah smoker, therefore, has more puffs filled with nicotine and tar. However, the use of a hookah is less restricted by the government, according to a lawmaker.

Citing a recent study conducted in Egypt, Rep. Lee Yong-sup of the main opposition Democratic Party, said hookah smokers get about 200 times the smoke of a single cigarette. However, he said that the authorities have few measures to curb it.

The lawmaker said, “Anyone can easily smoke a hookah near Hongik University, Itaewon and Gangnam subway station in Seoul with only 15,000 won and the authorities do not have any information on the harmful practice.”