By Jung Hae-myoung
The smoking rate among male adults decreased in 2017 from the previous year with cigarette sales slipping by over 200 million packs, helped by graphic warnings on cigarette packets, the health ministry said Thursday.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, last year's smoking rate posted a sharp decline compared with that of 2016 ― although it failed to elaborate on the figure.
The ministry, along with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), plans to come up with a report on national health and nutrition, including the smoking rate, in November.
Cigarette sales decreased to 3.4 billion packs in 2017 from 3.6 billion packs in 2016 ― in 2015, 3.3 billion packs were sold.
The ministry said making graphic warnings compulsory for tobacco companies has proven effective, as well as decreasing the number of smoking areas in public facilities.
Adding graphic warnings to cigarette packages has been mandatory for all manufacturers since 2016.
Expanding non-smoking areas also affected the smoking rate. In 2011, 47 percent of the population were smokers, but after increasing the number of non-smoking areas in public facilities, this dropped to about 40 percent in 2012.
The ministry will demand cigarette manufacturers attach photos showing more graphic damage caused by smoking, starting Dec. 23 this year.
Around 11 cigarette manufacturers, including those of electronic ones, will change the packet design with new graphics, showing the negative effect of smoking on the lungs, heart, mouth and intestines.
“We will continue to put graphic signs on the cigarette packets, including electronic ones, to cut down the national smoking rate,” said a ministry official.
The ministry will also require companies to disclose the ingredients of cigarettes.