Jeong Sye-kyun Dismisses "No Increase in Tobacco and Alcohol Prices"... Orders Ministry of Health and Welfare to 'Communicate with Media'

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of the 28th. 2021.1.28 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized on the 28th that the government is "not considering at all" the reported tobacco price increase and the imposition of a health promotion charge on alcohol, and instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the relevant authority, to actively communicate on the matter.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination issued an unplanned press release that afternoon stating this and added, "We have instructed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to communicate sufficiently with the media to prevent unnecessary controversies from spreading further."

Prime Minister Chung also posted a direct message on his social media, stating, "The government is currently not considering nor planning to implement any tobacco price increase or health promotion charge on alcohol." He further emphasized, "Tobacco and alcohol are items consumed by many citizens, and issues such as pricing require thorough research and review from various perspectives. It is a matter that requires careful social discussion and cannot be pushed forward in a short period."

The Office for Government Policy Coordination conveyed that Prime Minister Chung expressed regret over the continuous spread of reports despite the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s official response.