Korea unveils graphic warnings

The South Korean government has unveiled 40 graphic pictures that are due to start appearing on cigarette packs from the end of this year, according to a story in The Korea Times.

The images have been released following a month-long consultation that included representatives of the Korea Health Promotion Foundation, Sogang University faculty members and public health experts.

Starting from December 23, cigarette packs will have to include warnings taking up at least 50 percent of the front surface. At least 30 percent of the front surface will have to be given over to one of the images, while at least 20 percent will include a written warning.

The warnings are supposed to be clearly visible in retail settings.

Attempts have been made since 2002 to make graphic images mandatory, but it wasn’t until May 2015 that the National Assembly passed the necessary legislative revision.

“Putting images on the packet is a non-expensive anti-smoking approach recommended by the World Health Organization currently effective in 80 countries,” a ministry official said. “It raises awareness about the possible health consequences, and is thus effective in curbing smoking.”

The Korea Association on Smoking or Health (KASH) welcomed the measure. “I think the policy will be effective in curbing smoking, which is not only an unhealthy personal habit but a contributor to social welfare costs,” a KASH official said. “I hope the government will use far more confronting images to improve the effectiveness of this campaign.”

But a British American Tobacco official was quoted as saying the images were far more shocking than was socially acceptable, which was a violation of the law.

Under the law, the images should not be so extreme as to cause disgust, he said.

BAT thought the graphics went beyond this point and that tobacco companies, including BAT, would seek expert opinion about whether the graphic images broke the law.