Как показывает статистика, повышение цен на сигареты особо не сказалось на количестве курильщиков. После некоторого спада объемы продаж сигарет вновь вернулись на прежний уровень.

Cigarette prices rose by W2,000 a pack in January of this year, but tobacco sales have almost returned to pre-price-hike levels, and the number of people who are trying to kick the habit is declining (US$1=W1,184).

Cigarette production volume surged from 160 million packs in January to 340 million in July, which is similar to the average monthly output of 362 million packs over the last three years.

Tax revenues from cigarette sales increased by W1.2 trillion in the first half of this year due to the price hike.

The number of people who are trying to quit smoking continues to dwindle. The number of people who signed up for quit-smoking treatment covered by health insurance fell from 39,718 in March to 18,334 in June.

Enrollment for quit-smoking programs at health clinics nationwide also dropped from 160,000 people in January to around 30,000 in June.