SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Korea Bizwire) – Starting Friday, cigarette packets sold in South Korea will carry graphic images showing the harmful effects of smoking, in accordance with a law passed earlier this year. A total of 10 graphic health warnings are to be placed on the upper part of the packet, covering 30 percent of the front and back.
The disturbing images will come in full color, covering smoking-related diseases including lung cancer, oral cancer, and heart attacks, as well as the side effects of smoking, such as second-hand smoking, sexual dysfunction, and skin aging.
Along with the new packets, new anti-smoking ads will be aired on TV starting Thursday, featuring testimony from real-life smokers diagnosed with fatal diseases.
The smoking rate for South Koreans aged 19 and older was at 39.3 percent in 2015, a drop from 43.1 percent in 2014.
Image Credit: Yonhap, Ministry of Health & Welfare / photonews@koreabizwire.com
