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Tobacco Control in Korea
Policy mechanism and coordination

Policy mechanism and coordination

Master Plan for promoting national health (HP 2030)

The Minister of Health and Welfare shall formulate a master plan for promoting the national health every five years. The master plan shall include the basic goal of, and direction-setting for promoting the national health and major tasks to be implemented to promote the national health.

HP2030 is the 5th National Health Plan which describes the health policy direction and agenda at the national level for a period of ten years from 2021 to 2030 with the goal of ‘a society where everyone enjoys life-long health.’ Strengthened tobacco control measures and aggressive initiatives to prevent tobacco use of adolescents and youth is one of the major tasks to achieve the goal.

Implementation Plan 1 : Prevent the reckless introduction of new types of tobacco products into the market

  • Broaden the definition of ‘tobacco’ or ‘tobacco product’
    (Manufactured by using tobacco leaves → Tobacco or electronic cigarette device made by using tobacco or synthetic nicotine as all or any part of the raw materials)

Implementation Plan 2 : Prevent the reckless introduction of new types of tobacco products into the market

  • Ban on adding flavoring agents
  • Control products containing nicotine as tobacco products
  • Adopt a Tobacco Distribution Tracking System to eradicate illicit tobacco trade
  • Mandate the reporting and disclosure of substances in tobacco products and its emissions
  • Ban on tobacco display and advertising in retailer’s business place
  • Size increase of graphic health warning labels on the packaging of tobacco products
  • Introduction of Plain Packaging
  • Ban on promotion of devices exclusively designed for e-cigarette use
  • Review appropriate level of mid to longterm pricing through collection of the Health Promotion Fund
  • Complete ban on all indoor smoking for all types of buildings

Implementation Plan 3 : Reinforce smoking prevention programs targeting groups at high risk of becoming future smokers

  • Expansion of participatory and first-hand experience type smoking prevention education
  • Build connections between different types of smoking cessation support services
  • Expansion of customized smoking cessation support services for vulnerable populations

In pursuit of the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the Ministry of Health and Welfare, in collaboration with several relevant ministries and agencies such as the National Tobacco Control Center, are implementing various programs. National Tobacco Control Center, in close collaboration with other stakeholders, performs multiple tasks.

Ministry of Health and Welfare

NATIONAL HEALTH PROMOTION POLICY COMMITTEE

  • Comprehensive National Health Promotion Plan
  • Management Plan for National Health Promotion Fund
  • Deliberations on the National Health Promotion Act, including tobacco health warnings
ARTICLE6 TAXATION
  • Ministry of Economy and Finance

    Special Consumption Tax

  • Ministry of the Interior and Safety

    Excise Tax on Tobacco

  • Ministry of Environment

    Waste management charge

ARTICLE 8 SMOKE-FREE AREA
  • Provincial and Municial Offices, Public Health Center

    Management of smoke-free area

  • National Tobacco Control Center

    Management of the system of smoke-free area

  • Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

    Management of smoke-free transportation

  • Ministry of Environment

    Laws related to smoke-free in natural parks

  • Cultural Heritage Administration

    Laws related to smoke-free in cultural heritage sites

ARTICLE 9 REGULATION OF THE CONTENTS AND EMISSIONS
  • Ministry of Food and Drug Safety

    Analysis of the tobacco contents and emissions

  • Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

    Human Health Risk Assessment

ARTICLE 11 PICTORIAL HEALTH WARNINGS
  • National Tobacco Control Center

    Development of pictorial health warning Holding the Tobacco Control Policy Expert Committee

  • National Cancer Center, Related academic societies

    Providing the picture of health warning

ARTICLE 12 EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS
  • Provincial and Municial Educational Offices, Middle and High school

    Implementation of tobacco use prevention program in the school

  • Preschool and Kindergarten

    Implementation of tobacco use prevention program for the children

  • National Tobacco Control Center

    Management of tobacco use prevention program

    Online tobacco cessation service

  • Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health & Welfare

    Training for tobacco control program staff

ARTICLE 13 ADVERTISING, PROMOTION AND SPONSORSHOP
  • National Tobacco Control Center

    Monitoring industries' marketing at retail, media and online

  • Korea communications Standards Commission

    Regulation on the illegal online of tobacco products

ARTICLE14 TOBACCO CESSATION SERVICE
  • National Tobacco Control Center

    Anti-tobacco campaigns

    Community-based tobacco cessation clinics

    Quitline

    Management of municipal tobacco control programs

  • National Health Insurance Service

    Tobacco cessation service in hospitals or clinics

  • Korea Association of Health Promotion

    Tobacco cessation service for military personnel

ARTICLE 15 ILLICIT TRADE
  • Korea Customs Service

    Detection of smuggling and counterfeit tobacco

  • Ministry of Economy and Finance

    Tobacco manufacturing and distribution management

  • Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp.

    Tobacco track and trace system (expected)

ARTICLE 16 SALES TO AND BY MINORS
  • Ministry of Gender Equality and Family

    Regulation on the sales to and by minors

ARTICLE 19 LIABILITY
  • National Health Insurance Service

    Proceeding with a lawsuit against a tobacco companies(KT&G, PMI, BAT)

ARTICLE 20 RESEARCH AND SURVEILLANCE
  • Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
  • Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
  • National Tobacco Control Center
  • National Cancer Center
  • Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
  • Korean Association on Smoking or Health
  • Waterloo University (Canada)
  • Related academic societies and experts
ARTICLE 21 REPORTING AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
  • WHO No Tobacco Unit(TFI)

    WHO Global Tobacco Epidemic"

    World No Tobaccy Day

  • WHO FCTC

    FCTC Conference of the Parties

    FCTC Global Progress Report"

  • National Tobacco Control Center

    Support for international cooperation