South Korea on Thursday proposed a steep 80 percent hike in cigarette prices to cut consumption in a nation with one of the world’s highest male smoking rates.
The decision requires parliamentary approval, but Health Minister Moon Hyung-Pyo said it was necessary to counter what has become the "biggest threat to national health".
The proposal would see the average price of a packet of cigarettes rise from KPW2,500 (USD2.4) to KRW4,500 (USD4.3) from 1 January next year.
(Source: The Malaysian Insider)