Reports poured out that the price of cigarettes would increase to 8,000 won. When Prime Minister Chung Sye-gyun explained that “there is no plan to raise,” some media outlets expressed it as “a government that changed words because of the great opposition.”
However, although many media companies were fully aware that the increase in cigarette prices by the Ministry of Health and Welfare was’plan within 10 years’, the situation is clear as if they are raising it immediately.
The start of the case is at the ‘5th National Health Promotion Comprehensive Plan Briefing’ on the morning of the 27th. In a briefing, the head of health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Isran, said, “We will strengthen price and non-price regulations such as raising the health promotion charge for cigarettes and introducing the price of cigarettes without advertisements to create a smoking environment.”
In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s access reporters asked for a plan to increase cigarette prices, saying, “I said that the health promotion charge for cigarettes is to be raised to the WHO average level, but I am curious to what extent the extent and timing are being reviewed.”
“I am not raising the (health) promotion fee to the WHO average level. Currently, the OECD average of 7 dollars per cigarette pack, but in Korea it is about 4 dollars,” he said. “It is a policy goal to raise the price of cigarettes, and taxes and promotion charges are included in the tobacco price.” Next, “The plan announced today is a 10-year plan,” and “Currently, we have not specifically decided when and how much to raise. Looking at the situation for 10 years, I will set specific timing and burdens.”
Afterwards, the question continued, “Please explain in detail about the review of the price policy such as the imposition of health promotion charges for alcoholic beverages.” Here too, Director Isran said, “We have not yet made a decision to impose an enhancement charge on alcohol and health-hazardous items. The price policy has not been materialized and will discuss and study.”
“There is no specific plan” can be fully interpreted as the position that there is no plan to raise it immediately, but the media reported in the title as if it would raise the price immediately.
The Chosun Ilbo said,’Government examines the price hike for alcohol and cigarettes,’ Chosun Biz said,’I’m tired of corona, but I’m raising the price for alcohol and cigarettes?’… Lovers and pets were upset,’ the Seoul newspaper reported,’I believed in reducing the cost of cigarettes… smokers “eventually squeezing the common people”, and Money Today reported that’the price of cigarettes increased and only convenience stores laughed’.
Looking at the titles of many media companies, it seems that the government has confirmed the increase in cigarette prices. The title of the 8,000 won increase in cigarette prices was so-called’Fishing Castle Title’. Nevertheless, until the morning of the 28th, a’cigarette price increase’ rose in search terms on major portal sites, and various communities also criticized the government.
In the end, Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun explained through Facebook on the 28th that “the current government has no consideration at all and has no plans for raising the price of cigarettes and imposing health promotion charges for alcohol.”
However, despite Prime Minister Chung’s clarification, the JoongAng Ilbo said, “Is the price of cigarettes and alcohol higher? My blood pressure rises.” The government changed words in a day when the opposition was great, and the Chosun Ilbo reported, “Government raises tobacco prices and reaps them in a day”. Even though the government maintained the same position, it reported as if it was trying to raise the price of cigarettes and pulled out after seeing public opinion.
In response, MBC reporter Song Yo-hoon said on Facebook, “At this point, it is not a misinformation due to negligence or a lack of communication. “Intentional misinformation” who misinforms the desire to disturb public sentiment through misinformation, and to some media, “Are you oriented toward distortion and manipulation? “Do you not know how to distinguish between propaganda and agitation and criticism?”
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