The Ministry of Health and Welfare said on the 28th that "raising cigarette prices and imposing a levy on alcoholic beverages are issues that require sufficient social discussion," adding, "We are not reviewing them at this time."
Earlier, the ministry convened the National Health Promotion Policy Review Committee on the 27th and approved the "6th National Health Promotion Comprehensive Plan (2026-2030)." The plan included raising the National Health Promotion levy on cigarettes and newly imposing it on alcoholic beverages. That prompted claims that the price of a pack of cigarettes (20 sticks) could rise to about 10,000 won, the average level in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
In the 6th National Health Promotion Comprehensive Plan, the ministry said it would raise health promotion levies imposed on cigarettes to a level close to the World Health Organization (WHO) average to encourage smoking cessation.
The WHO, in Article 6 (price and taxes measures to reduce the demand for tobacco) of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), recommends setting the ratio of total taxes and levies to tobacco retail prices at 75% or higher.
Of the current 4,500 won price for a pack of cigarettes in Korea, the tobacco consumption tax is 1,007 won, the National Health Promotion Fund is 841 won, the special consumption tax is 594 won, and the local education tax is 443 won. The various taxes and levies included in a pack of cigarettes total 3,323 won, or 73.8%.
In addition, the ministry said it would review a plan to impose a health promotion levy on alcoholic beverages to encourage moderation and induce reduced consumption. Currently, only cigarettes are subject to the health promotion levy, and the ministry aims to newly impose it on alcohol.
Regarding this, the ministry said, "The '6th National Health Promotion Comprehensive Plan' released on the 27th is a plan to conduct a midterm review of and supplement the '5th National Health Promotion Comprehensive Plan,' a 10-year plan released in 2021," adding, "Reviewing a cigarette price increase and imposing a levy on alcoholic beverages are medium- to long-term policy directions in the 10-year plan released in 2021, not newly added content."
The ministry said, "Raising cigarette prices and imposing a levy on alcoholic beverages have significant ripple effects on the public and the national economy, so a thorough discussion and a process to collect public opinion are essential," adding, "We will review the matter after gathering input from relevant experts and broader society."