As part of a tobacco-free initiative agreed last week by countries in the Western Pacific region, the Korean government has set a target of reducing the nation's smoking rate by ten per cent over the coming five years, health officials said.

The World Health Organisation has helped its member states fighting against the smoking issue by offering five-year plans since 1990. The pact signed last Wednesday is the latest, updated version of a package of six policies to reduce the demand for and consumption of tobacco products. The package includes: monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from tobacco smoke; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn about the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and raise taxes on tobacco.
Under the Regional Action Plan enforced from next year through 2014, the nation's current tobacco use among adults and youths is expected to be reduced by ten per cent from the most recent baseline. More than 60 per cent of taxes will be imposed on tobacco, as well.
As WHO points out the tobacco industry's lobbying activities and partnership with governments, policymakers and researchers is one of the biggest obstacles in tackling the smoking issue, all member countries should launch national plans based on the target and indicators set by the international health organisation.
According to WHO, the Western Pacific is the only region where all eligible parties have ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which was adopted at the World Health Assembly in 2003.
South Korea's smoking rate had been falling since 2005 when the government signed the treaty on tobacco control and started to launch non-smoking campaigns.
After toughened measures were taken on smoking, the adult smoking rate steadily decreased from 57.8 per cent in 2004 to 52.3 per cent in 2005, 44.1 per cent in 2006 and 42 per cent in 2007. But the figure hovered above the 40 per cent range recently and started to increase from the second half of last year, according to the latest report in July. (sra)