Kate Yoo and Neil Schluger on Tobacco Control in South Korea

Since 2013, South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has been seeking to recover healthcare costs attributable to tobacco use through a landmark lawsuit against KT&G, PMI Korea, and BAT Korea. Despite the significant policy and legal stakes, South Korea still lacks rigorous estimates of the direct medical costs linked to tobacco use.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Kate Yoo from The World Bank and Prof. Neil Schluger from New York Medical College to understand the current situation of tobacco control in South Korea, including the interesting “Lagged Epidemic” phenomenon, the identified gender disparities, a "Polluter Pays" Framework, and the progress of the ongoing litigation.

"The toll of tobacco: smoking-attributable health spending in South Korea, 2014–2024. National claims evidence for cost recovery" https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(26)00047-7/fulltext

"NHIS vs. Big Tobacco: South Korea’s pursuit of cost recovery through litigation" https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanwpc/article/PIIS2666-6065(25)00194-4/fulltext