By Kim Cheong-won
Staff Reporter


Health authorities will start operating ``no-smoking clinics’’ in major beaches across the country today as part of an anti-smoking campaign geared toward summer vacationers.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said that the no-smoking clinics will be in service for the summer vacation until Aug. 5 in 10 beaches including, Haeundae in Pusan, Kyongpodae in Kangnug and Taechon in South Chungchong Province.

``In the no-smoking clinics, smokers on vacation will be able to receive free consulting services and also be given free medical check-ups,’’ said Choi Sung-lak, an official at the ministry.

Vacationers will first answer short questionnaires indicating how much they depend on nicotine. The next step is to measure the carbon monoxide levels in the smokers bodies and to gauge breathing capacity.

``Smokers’ general carbon monoxide level is thirty times as high as that of non-smokers,’’ said Soh Young-shik, who is in charge of the clinics.

After the medical check-ups, smokers will consult with doctors and if they would like to quit smoking, they will pledge to kick the habit in front of their family members, Soh said.

Those who are willing quit smoking will be given a folding fan as a souvenir.

On the fan, famous 18th-century painter Kim Hong-do’s work is comically parodied, encouraging smokers to quit smoking.

A ``No Smoking Sand Sculpture Exhibition’’ is planned in Kyongpodae Beach on Sunday and on Taechon Beach on Aug. 3.

Artwork by sand sculptors Kim Kil-man and Cho Hoon will be displayed and vacationers will be encouraged to make sand sculptures to promote the anti-smoking campaign.

The ministry also plans to distribute water bottles carrying anti-smoking stickers to motorists at 450 highway gas stations in a bid to raise public awareness about the harmful effect of cigarettes.

Smokers traveling by train will also be encouraged to participate in the government-led campaign.

A total of 45,000 booklets, which contain information on how to quit smoking, will be distributed to all trains departing from Chongnyangni Station and Seoul Station starting today.

The 28-page pamphlet will also be handed out to banks, government offices and public health centers across the nation to publicize the campaign.

``Since the 500-won increase in cigarette prices last December, many smokers have kicked the habit. We expect that the campaign will gain further momentum,’’ said an official at the ministry.

According to the ministry, last year’s price increase caused 8.3 percent of male smokers to quit smoking.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the smoking rate for South Korean adult males was 64.8 percent in 2004, the highest among member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The rate for adult females was 5.5 percent.

kcw@koreatimes.co.kr