Data compiled by the finance ministry showed a near 4 per cent drop in cigarette sales over 2017, Yonhap news agency reported.

3.45 billion 20-packs of cigarettes were sold in South Korea in 2017. According to finance ministry data, this represents a 3.8 per cent decrease from the 3.66 billion 20-packs sold in 2016.
Yonhap reported the drop in sales was due to government anti-smoking campaigns and price increases. In January 2015, the price of cigarettes jumped around 80 per cent, from KRW 2,500 (EUR 1.87) per pack to KRW 4,500.
Government data showed a 9.2 per cent drop in taxes collected form cigarettes last year, with KRW 11.2 trillion (EUR 8.4 billion) collected in 2017 compared to KRW 12.4 trillion collected 2016.