Liquid E-cigarette Vending Machine. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea is intensifying its campaign against e-cigarettes, warning that the vapor inhaled and exhaled is far from harmless.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Saturday it will launch a second round of anti-smoking advertisements on September 1, focusing on the dangers of e-cigarette aerosol.
The campaign, titled “Still think vaping is safe?” follows an earlier phase in April and aims to raise public awareness about the health risks of vaping, which officials say has spread under the mistaken belief that it is less harmful than traditional smoking.
The new television and online spots feature two seemingly ordinary figures: a father driving his children home and a college student entertaining friends. Both exhale clouds of vapor — which the ads starkly label as aerosol composed of ultrafine particles containing nicotine, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and carcinogens.
Health authorities note that aerosol particles linger in the air, can be inhaled deep into the lungs and have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, as well as addiction.
“Perceptions of e-cigarettes as benign or less harmful are spreading, and we want to challenge that complacency,” said Kwon Soon-heon, director of health policy at the ministry. “We hope to not only raise awareness of the dangers but also build momentum for stronger regulation of vaping products.”
The push comes as regulators worldwide struggle to keep pace with the rapid evolution of e-cigarettes and vaping culture, particularly among young people.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
