According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about five million smokers and four hundred thousand ex-smokers die from tobacco usage while at the same time killing six hundred thousand passive smokers including children every year. The largest number of deaths, 1.2 million, comes from China which is the largest tobacco producing and tobacco consuming country in the world. Even, a half of Chinese doctors are smokers. In comparison to China, approximately one hundred thirty thousand people from Japan, four hundred thirty five thousand people from United States, sixty six thousand people from France, and fifty thousand people from Korea die from tobacco related illnesses each year.

The research findings indicate that smokers die fifteen years earlier than non-smokers and tobacco chemicals kill half of its users.

According to the public statistics there are 1,900,000 male and 1,230,000 female college/university students in Korea in 2011. These students are in their twenty’s attending either two year colleges or four year universities. The statistics indicate that forty seven percent of male students smoke and 3.6 percent female students are cigarette consumers. These numbers imply that thirty percent of all Korean college/university students are about to die fifteen years younger than their peers while harming other students’ health in and out of campus. And, who knows how many students are already victims of passive smoking?

“I don’t mind if students smoke in designated smoking areas, but it is very annoying to passer by students if students are smoking and walking on campus. Subconsciously I don’t feel too good when I smell cigarette smoke since I know how harmful it can be for human-beings physically.” says an anonymous non-smoking KMU senior. 

What do you think about smoking?
An exchange student from France, Malonie Charras at Chung-Ang University says that “in France, a lot of people smoke, because it is just a way of socializing. For high school and university students, smoking is considered a part of being cool. Even many university students and other young guys who don’t smoke carry a pack of cigarette and a lighter. So, when they go to parties or clubs, they can offer a cigarette to talk with somebody”.

“Smoking is pointless because you spend your money to kill yourself and damage other people’s health. It is uncomfortable for others because of its strong smell. Plus, the cost of cigarette is going up in Korea.” replies Lee Jung-Sung, a CEC program student at KMU.

“I know it is not a good thing but it is enjoyable. It helps me to think and focus on something deeply. When you are stressed or angry, smoking helps you to calm down and relax. To respect non-smokers, we don’t smoke just everywhere. We try to smoke in designated smoking areas.”, tells exchange students from Turkey at KMU, Dilara Yanginci and Kubra Atci.

Cigarette consumption is apparently high among Korean university students. Perhaps, intensive educational pressures cause students to start smoking in their college years. The educational pressures can lead to high anxiety levels and depressions and students may turn to smoking. However, an undeniable fact proven by well known doctors and scientists is that cigarette contains eleven different types of harmful-to-human poisons, radioactive and non-radioactive toxic metals, and carcinogens such as benzene which can be found in gasoline. Other harmful contents include arsenic which is used in rat poison and nicotine which is poisonous and addictive.  These chemicals, unlike what most people think, damage human nerve system, increase blood pressure, and disturb oxygen circulation to the brain which leads to depression and negative moods.

Why don’t you quit smoking?
“Most people think that smoking is addictive because of its nicotine in the cigarette. In my case, smoking has become my habit. I am thinking that I should quit smoking, but due to my strong habit, it is impossible to stop it right away. Hence, I’m reducing my usage of cigarette little by little at the moment” answers Jung Sung.

“For us, smoking is like drinking coffee and we have no intention to stop smoking. Maybe marriage or having children in the future will make us to quit smoking.” says Dilara and Kubra.

“When I can’t smoke, I strongly feel like to eat something; therefore, smoking is actually better for my diet.” says Dilara. “Quitting smoking really depends on an individual’s point of view towards smoking. Some people really don’t care about smoking but some do; however, the best way one can quit smoking is to have a strong purpose to accomplish something by not smoking.” adds Dilara Yanginci.

How do we reduce smoking in such public areas as school campus?
In the United States, most states adopted a law banning public smoking within 25 feet (7.62 meters) of any building entrance. The law intends to minimize passive smoking and potential fire hazards. In Korea, it appears that everywhere is okay to smoke as long as you are out of the building. With Korea’s intensive crowdedness, the country may not be able to do much. However, it is not good for those concerned about passive smoking. The school campus probably represents the largest public facilities and it is the place for all students. Therefore, it is the right place to reduce passive smoking. The passive smoking can be reduced by decreasing the number of smoking areas and repositioning the smoking areas away from the building entrances and move to places where there are less people passing by. In the meantime, raising awareness of the harmful effects of passive smoking can help to reduce smoking in campus.

Javkhlantugs Byambaa (JV)(Reporter)

Mongolia@kookmin.ac.kr