Since 1.1,2005, the price of all cigarettes including foreign cigarettes was raised by 500 won. Because shop owners could make an additional profit per one pack after one day, they limited the quantity of cigarettes that they can sell per one people. As a result, shop owners had an argument with smokers who wanted to buy cigarettes cheaply in stores. Smokers who could not buy enough cigarettes looked for many stores and tried to buy cigarettes cheaply.
The government established the plan that he will raise the price of all cigarettes by more than 5000 won until 2013. This is very shocking news for smokers. As a smoker, the writer thinks that this plan is a government's mistake. The following contents are unfair reasons that the writer could think of.
First, the government made a plan thinking that raising the price of cigarettes will stop smoking for national health and hoped all smokers would stop smoking. But the plan showed side-effects, because the government sells the cigarette and has all earnings. If the government raises the price of cigarettes for national health, the government does not have to sell the cigarettes. Some smokers whose will is strong became no-smokers by the raising of cigarette price. Although the price of cigarette was raised, however, most smokers are smoking continuously. Many of the writer's friends are still smokers. Most people set up the plan of no-smoking after the raise of cigarette prices. However, they are smoking continuously.
Alcohol as well as cigarettes harm national health. If the government wants to gain the justification that raising cigarette prices is one thing for national health, the government will also have to raise the price of alcohol.
Second, the tax levied from cigarettes is more than 50% of the cigarette price. Therefore, smokers pay a tax twice. Of course, all goods are levied a tax. However, there are no goods that have more than 50% tax in goods' prices. In Korea, high income brackets have to pay much tax, and low income brackets must pay a little tax. Most people in high income brackets are non smokers for their health, because they have no worries. However, people in low income brackets who live day to day have stress from worrying about the future. Smoking is the solution for relaxing. However, poor salaried workers don't have spare time, because they work hard from fear of fire.
Third, in Korea, the freedom of the whole nation is guaranteed because Korea is a democratic state. All smokers have the freedom that they can smoke cigarettes. Therefore, the government have to guarantee the freedom of smoking. If smokers can not smoke due to the government plan to raise cigarette prices more than 5000won, smokers will be infringed in their freedom.
The government has an opinion to solve all problems by raising cigarette prices. If the government wants smokers not to smoke, it has to consider to manage no-smoking programs. If high income brackets pay a tax certainty, the tax problem will be solved. Therefore, the government has to reconsider about this problem and has to establish a plan that will solve all problems.
By Kim Chul-hwan
Social & political reporter