Quitting smoking for vacation

The government recently moved to reduce Korea’s soaring smoking rate by announcing plans to raise the price of cigarettes. The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency (GPPA), however, has an alternative plan: reward those who kick the habit with vacation time.

The GPPA has devised an incentive program to encourage its conscripted officers (those who are serving as law enforcement officers during their mandatory military service period) to quit smoking. Under the plan, officers who smoke are given three days if they go smoke-free for 90 days.

Participating officers will be medically tested to ensure that they haven’t smoked.

After quitting smoking for six months, additional days will be given.

"We want to plant a determination to quit smoking, which is why we have come up with the incentive of offering vacations," an official was quoted as saying.

The recent announcement by the government to raise cigarette prices has affected many smokers, including soldiers and policemen.

The campaign started last month in August and will continue until the end of October.

Fifty-nine percent of all smokers under the agency, or 161 officers, have been participating in the campaign.