Most Korean people know that smoking causes serious problems, such as cancer, wrecked lungs, constricted blood vessels, reduced oxygen, stained teeth, cracked lips, offending other people, bad smell, etc. In spite of knowing the dangers of smoking, Koreans enjoy smoking very much, and Korean smokers are hardly quitting cigarettes. On the other hand, the number of smokers is rapidly decreasing by reason of powerful anti-smoking campaigns in developed countries. As a matter of fact, the number of female and teenage smokers continues to increase every year in Korea. Some mass media report that more than 70% of Koreans above the age of 18 now smoke, and about 50% of high school seniors smoke. Besides, it is said that smoking is one of the reasons for Korea's high death rate among people in their 40s.
        After these embarrassing statistics were revealed, the Korean government eventually had a correct understanding of the seriousness of the problem. They finally took some measures in 1996, such as banning stores from selling cigarettes and alcohol to Koreans under the age of 18, strongly enforcing nonsmoking areas in public places, putting warning labels on cigarette packs, banning vending machines selling cigarettes near schools, and so on.
        These actions have made many buildings, including railroad stations and subway platforms, have smoking rooms or nonsmoking areas. Many nonsmokers have been trying to protect their rights against smokers, because they know that smoking influences nonsmokers' health a lot. Some scientists suggest that it is even more dangerous for nonsmokers if they are beside smokers when they are smoking cigarettes.
        But regardless of these measures, Koreans, especially men and teenagers of both sexes, seem to maintain their smoking habits at a shocking number. They say, "We smoke to get rid of our stress, and because all of our friends smoke, we feel that we have to smoke, too." If they really want to relieve their stress, they would be better off doing exercises than smoking. I also can't understand why they feel they are obliged to smoke because of peer pressure. If it is so, who is responsible for their health? Their friends? Doesn't this mean that they started smoking due to mob psychology?
        Many Korean high students now smoke very heavily. Of course, I know some students smoke on account of curiosity. However, many students also smoke because of Korea's highly-competitive college entrance system. They don't have opportunities to take part in extracurricular activities. They just have to study harder and harder until they go to a desirable university. The students think the only way that they can get rid of the pressure is smoking or drinking, for they don't have enough time to do anything else except studying. They look like studying robots. Most high school students have tutors for their extracurricular lectures. Perhaps the Korean education system and their parents' excessive expectations have made them become heavy smokers or drinkers to forget their stress and pressure. Korean teenagers don't know exactly how hazardous smoking cigarettes is. Not only is it a serious social problem, but also it can be fatal.
        So many Korean people wonder if the Korean government is doing enough to help diminish smoking among its people. There are few popular publications to inform people about how dangerous smoking cigarettes is on billboards or in the mass media. Although the Korean government puts up "No Smoking" signs nearly everywhere, it doesn't spend much time explaining to people why they shouldn't smoke and trying to enforce these laws. It is well-known that the Korean government collects a large amount of tax money from selling cigarettes that are produced and sold by the government monopoly, too. That fact probably has something to do with the lack of effective and powerful anti-smoking campaigns.
        Anyway, everybody knows that smoking is not good for health. Koreans have heard that people in their 40s die of liver cancer which smoking causes, and it can affect nonsmokers very seriously, particularly pregnant women. Despite having undeniable knowledge like that, the number of smokers is growing continuously in Korea. Therefore, the government has to educate people about the actual damage that cigarettes are able to cause on TV or billboards. And the smokers have to smoke cigarettes in smoking areas not to harm nonsmokers. If you are a smoker, be careful. You might cause someone else to be taken ill because of your smoking.