May 31 every year is World No Tobacco Day, designated by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Korea Health Promotion Institute announced research findings for World No Tobacco Day showing that smoking prevention education received in early childhood has positive effects into adolescence.
On the 31st, the Korea Health Promotion Institute released the results of the study "Evaluation of the effectiveness of early childhood education to prevent the harms of smoking," commissioned to the Yonsei University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation. The research team analyzed the effectiveness of prevention education based on nationwide survey data and other materials the institute conducted in 2025.
The analysis covered a total of 2,672 middle and high school students. Among them, 1,065 students had received smoking prevention education in early childhood, including 581 middle schoolers and 484 high schoolers. The remaining 1,607 students had not received such education.
The analysis found that students who received smoking prevention education in early childhood recorded higher average scores than those who did not on indicators such as knowledge of smoking, negative perceptions of smoking, and self-control.
Specifically, on smoking knowledge, students with prevention education experience had an average score of 14.71, higher than 13.86 for students without such experience.
In the assessment of negative attitudes recognizing smoking as harmful, students educated in early childhood recorded an average score of 4.30. Those with education showed stronger aversion than those without, who scored 4.22.
Metrics evaluating the likelihood of active responses—such as asking others not to smoke when someone is smoking—were also higher for students who received education, at 0.97, compared with 0.86 for those who did not.
Self-control, including patience, was also higher among students with education experience (3.63) than among those without (3.57).
The research team said, "It has been verified that early childhood smoking prevention education can influence attitudes and behaviors even about 10 years later," adding, "If support is provided so that families, institutions, and communities build a nonsmoking culture together from early childhood through parent education and family linkages, the educational effect will be further strengthened."