Korea’s National Assembly on Friday approved a bill that will make it obligatory for cigarette packs to carry graphic health warnings, though the warnings must not be ‘excessively’ repulsive, according to a story in the Korea Herald.
The graphics will have to account for more than 30 percent of the front and rear main surfaces of cigarette packs, while the graphics and textural warnings together will have to occupy more than 50 percent.
Under revisions to the National Health Promotion Act, the graphic warnings will become mandatory after an 18-month period of grace.
Cigarette companies that violate the law will be liable to up to WON10 million in fines and the loss of their business licenses, while executives will face up to a year in jail.
The passage of the bill came after 11 attempts dating back to 2002. The bill had been due for approval in February, but foundered before the vote because some lawmakers argued that making graphic warnings obligatory would be a violation of the rights of smokers.
Rival lawmakers managed to pass the bill this time following the agreement to include a new phrase into the revision that says ‘the warning photos should be based on facts and should not be too disturbing’.
