[Contribution] Why South Korea is losing the struggle against smoking
August 12, 2026 by koreaherald.com
[Contribution] Why South Korea is losing the struggle against smoking
South Korea is losing ground because its nicotine policy is working against switching. While countries such as Sweden and New Zealand have accelerated smoking declines by allowing lower-risk alternatives to compete with cigarettes, South Korea continues to tax and regulate safer products in ways that make them less accessible. The result is predictable: smokers receive confusing risk messages and face fewer practical routes away from combustion. If the goal is fewer smoking-related deaths, policy should stop making cigarettes the easiest option.
17.60% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 8.1 million current smokers in South Korea 30.20% of men are current smokers but only 5.10% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
