煙草在線據《韓國時報》報道編譯　　一個國營健康促進機構的負責人說，政府有必要把每包卷煙的價格提高2000韓元（1.9美元），以降低韓國臭名昭著的高吸煙率。

　　“提高卷煙價格是個一舉兩得的舉措，”韓國健康促進基金會（KHPF）主席Moon Chang-jin說，該舉措有助于改善人們的健康狀況，并減輕政府治療吸煙相關疾病的經濟負擔。

　　“我希望政府大幅度提高卷煙價格。考慮到通脹率，每包卷煙的價格應該至少上漲1000韓元。如果上漲幅度翻倍至2000韓元將會更好，”Moon 12月3日在首爾汝愛島的辦公室內接受《韓國時報》的采訪時說道。

　　經濟合作與發展組織（OECD）的數據顯示，2010年，韓國每包卷煙的平均價格為2500韓元，是其成員國中卷煙價格最低的國家。該價格是挪威和愛爾蘭卷煙價格的六分之一，去年，這兩個國家每包卷煙的平均價格為1.5萬韓元。

　　2010年，韓國15歲及以上男性的吸煙率為40.8%，是經濟合作與發展組織成員國中吸煙率最高的國家，表明較低的卷煙價格導致了高吸煙率。

　　這位公共管理者原來是一名官僚，他說，有明顯證據可以證明卷煙價格和煙草消費之間的相互關系。他說，較高的卷煙價格可以降低吸煙率，尤其是降低低收入者和未成年人的吸煙率。

　　“眾所周知，韓國的吸煙成本遠遠低于其他發達國家。如果你把卷煙價格與一杯咖啡的價格作對比，你就會很清楚地知道卷煙價格有多低。卷煙價格大約是一杯咖啡價格的一半。”

　　Moon同時也擔任《世界衛生組織煙草控制框架公約》（WHO FCTC)）的主席，該國際組織負責監管有關煙草和卷煙制品的國際政策。

　　他說，該組織將繼續在2014年于莫斯科舉辦的下屆大會上探討減少煙草消費的措施。

　　“完成通過提高卷煙價格和卷煙稅降低煙草需求的指導方針的草案已處于最后階段。我希望該指導方針將卷煙價格與通脹掛鉤。”

　　Moon還表示，該大會將把焦點集中在控制無煙煙草上，因為無煙煙草對吸煙者產生新的健康威脅。來自釜山的Moon說，作為韓國健康促進基金會主席兼《世界衛生組織煙草控制框架公約》主席，他將不遺余力地改善韓國人民的健康水平。

Korea-South: 'Cigarette Prices Should be Doubled'

　　The chief of a state-run health promotion agency said the government needs to raise the price of cigarettes by 2,000 won ($1.9) per pack to cut the nation's notorious high smoking rate.

　　"Raising cigarette price is like killing two birds with one stone," said Moon Chang-jin, president of the Korea Health Promotion Foundation (KHPF), adding it helps to boost people's health and reduces the government's financial burden for treating diseases related to smoking.

　　"I want the government to raise cigarette prices dramatically. They should be hiked by at least 1,000 won per pack, considering the inflation rate. It would be better if the hike was doubled to 2,000 won," said Moon in an interview with The Korea Times in his office in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday.

　　According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Korea's average cigarette price per pack was 2,500 won in 2010, the lowest among its member countries. It was about one sixth of that of Norway and Ireland whose cigarette prices per pack were 15,000 won last year.

　　The nation's smoking rate among men aged 15 or more was the highest among OECD member countries at 40.8 percent in 2010, hinting that the low price contributed to the high smoking rate.

　　The bureaucrat-turned-public administrator said that there is clear evidence which proves the correlation between cigarette prices and consumption of tobacco. Higher cigarette prices contribute to reducing the smoking rate, in particular among low-income earners and minors, he added.

　　"It is well-known that Korea's smoking prices are far lower than those of other advanced countries. You know clearly how cheap it is, if you compare it to that of a cup of coffee. Cigarette prices are about half of that of coffee."

　　Moon also chairs the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), an international institution which regulates international policies on tobacco and cigarette products.

　　He said the organization will continue to discuss measures to cut tobacco consumption in its next convention scheduled for 2014 in Moscow.

　　"We are in the final stages to complete a draft of guidelines for cutting tobacco demand with price and tax hikes. I expect the guidelines will get cigarette prices pegged to inflation."

　　Moon also said the convention will focus on controlling smokeless tobacco as it is posing new health threats to smokers. The Busan native said that he will spare no efforts to promote the health of Koreans as head of the KHPF and the WHO FCTC. Enditem