The Korean Liver Association noted on the 22nd that it supports the National Health Insurance Corporation's lawsuit worth 50 billion won, stating that 'smoking is a cause of cancer.' Previously, the Health Insurance Corporation filed a lawsuit against tobacco companies KT&G, Philip Morris Korea, and BAT Korea for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred while treating smokers who developed cancer. This lawsuit has been ongoing for 11 years.
The Korean Liver Association issued a statement that day, saying, 'The causal relationship between smoking and disease has been scientifically established.' The liver detoxifies toxic substances in the body. However, smoking damages the liver, increasing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis B and C, and liver diseases, the association explains.
Smoking also causes lung cancer and laryngeal cancer. According to the association, the probability that small cell lung cancer in smokers is caused by smoking is 97.5%. The probability for squamous cell lung cancer is 96.4%, and for laryngeal cancer, it is 85.3%.
The association stated, 'Tobacco companies have downplayed or concealed the addictiveness and harm of their products while knowing it' and that they 'misled consumers by promoting products with lower nicotine and tar as "less harmful products."' They added, 'In foreign countries, there have been cases where tobacco companies were held responsible in tobacco lawsuits, resulting in compensation rulings,' urging, 'We also need to compensate for the damages caused by smoking.'
Previously, the Health Insurance Corporation filed a lawsuit for 53.3 billion won in damages against tobacco companies in April 2014. They requested the return of the amount spent on medical expenses for 3,465 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and laryngeal cancer from 2003 to 2012. The first trial court ruled in favor of the tobacco companies in November 2020, stating, 'It is difficult to recognize a direct causal relationship between smoking and cancer.' It noted the possibility that cancer could also develop due to family history, personal habits, surrounding environment, or other factors.
The Health Insurance Corporation appealed, and the case was transferred to the second trial. The second trial court will hold a final argument session on the 22nd of next month. Once the court concludes the final argument and sets the sentencing date, the conclusion of the tobacco lawsuit in the second trial will be announced that day. The Health Insurance Corporation submitted a new testimony from a lung cancer patient in their 80s to the second trial court, which supports the causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer. The patient's testimony was accepted as evidence in the trial.