According to South Korean media on March 13th, the Seoul Central District Court has ruled on the case brought by the former smokers' human rights alliance against the Korea Health Promotion Institute for allegedly violating the rights to smoke, health, equality, and reputation with their cigarette packaging and anti-smoking advertisements. The court has dismissed the alliance's claim for compensation.
Last month, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 96 dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Smoker's Rights Alliance against the Korea Health Promotion Institute for damages, citing the institute's placement of warning images and anti-smoking advertisements on e-cigarette packaging as the reason for the lawsuit. Today, the court announced that adding warning images of health risks on e-cigarettes is not illegal.
In this case, the court primarily considered whether e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes and whether the production of warning images on cigarette packs and anti-smoking advertisements is illegal. The plaintiff (Smokers' Rights Alliance) argued that e-cigarettes are less damaging to health than traditional cigarettes and can be used as a nicotine substitute or smoking cessation aid. However, after reviewing domestic and foreign studies on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, the court did not accept the plaintiff's arguments. The court stated, "It is difficult to say that there are cigarettes with less health hazards, and it is also difficult to say that the government can recommend tobacco products to the public on the basis of less health hazard. The warning on the cigarette pack explains the addictiveness and health risks of e-cigarettes. The images and anti-smoking advertisements are also based on factual evidence, so they are not illegal.
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