Jo Hyun Jae

Since the beginning of 2009 the Korean government has stopped providing duty-free cigarettes for its military.  As a result, the smoking rate among the Korean officers and soldiers has fallen to below 50%.  If they want to smoke now, Korean officers and soldiers have to buy their cigarettes at market price.

According to data provided by the Korean Department of National Defense, last year the smoking rate among soldiers has fallen to 49.7%.  In 2004, it was 63%; 2005 – 59%; 2007 – 50.7% — dropping gradually.  In five years, there has been a significant decrease.  Since the Korean army was established in 1948, this is the first time the smoking rate among its soldiers has fallen below 50%.

However, this rate is still higher than the average smoking rate among Koreans males, which currently stands at 40.9%.  The Health Unit of the Department of National Defense is trying to encourage more soldiers to quit smoking, so as to be on a par with the national average.

You all know Jo Hyun-Jae quit smoking in early 2009.  Just look at those pearly whites and that milky skin in the photo above — the Korean army should make him its spokesman for this Quit Smoking campaign.

(Information source: http://cn.joins.com/big5; http://hyunjaelove.jp; www.johyunjae.hk.  Thanks!)