Smokers rush in to quit

/ Yonhap

By Lee Ji-hye

The number of people signing up for the public health center’s anti-smoking clinic has tripled this year.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, there were 261,820 new registrations between January 1 and February 20, while there were 90,833 for this period last year.

The total number of anti-smoking clinic members was 105,322 on January 16, rising to 155,197 on January 29.

The clinics include a 12-week consultation program, financial support for the purchase of anti-smoking medication and health insurance for nicotine addiction treatment.

Officials attributed rising membership to the government’s recent cigarette price hikes and the extension of smoke-free zones.

Coffee shops and cyber cafes have been banned from installing smoking zones, and new regulations control smoking in wider areas near restaurants.