【有文稿】韩国，韩牛贵，香烟也贵

South Korea has proposed a tax increase that will raise the cost of cigarettes in the country. The current price for one pack of cigarettes is 1,600 won or $1.46. Along with some opposition to the price hike, concerns of affordability among the poor population have been raised. Under the new plan, the average price for cigarettes is expected to nearly double, reaching 2,500 won, or $2.28. As well as the price hike, some advertising will be banned and cigarette manufacturers are required to print picture warnings on their packs. The new plans come in an effort to reduce the smoking rate in the country, which is one of the highest in the developed world with around 41% of the male population that smoke. However, concerns of affordability among the poor population have been raised. The last time cigarette prices were raised was 9 years ago when prices went up by 500 won. During that time, it was recorded that the smoking rate dropped by 15%. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (JA) Johnathan Cochrane from news.yahoo.com comments I live here in SK, I hate smokers. Butts pile up in drifts like snow. The nasty crap is everywhere. Let the poor quit if they can't afford the tax. (QD) leepakim from youtube.com comments Good decision to keep people off the cigarettes. But I think the price hike is too igh. The black market for cheap cigarettes will probably grow much bigger. (FA) Authentic truthoid from youtube.com comments I agree with this! Plus the cost should be 20 a pack with a TOTAL BAN the very next year!!!!!! (JA)Ian Noctor from thejournal.ie comments We should put this in perspective. The average monthly wage in S Korea is 3626 euros per month compared to 3548 euros here in Ireland. So our average incomes are essentially the same. A packet of smokes at the 80% increased price of 3.36 euros will still be just under a third of the price here. The south Koreans have a long way to go if they want to use price as an influencing factor on quitting smoking. (QD) Gary Dunne from thejournal.ie comments Something doesn't add up here…if nearly half of the male population smoke then surely the cancer rates should be through the roof? And yet it isn't, it's way down on the list in 26th place. (FA) Thing 2 from news.yahoo.com comments Taxing cigarettes isn't designed to stop smokers, it's designed to make more money in taxes.