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An anti-smoking ad from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

People whose smoking habit has caused disease or disability are sharing their experiences in anti-smoking television advertisements produced by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The same kind of testimonials are likely to also appear in advertisements for South Korea’s anti-smoking campaign as soon as this December.

“We are preparing testimonial-style anti-smoking advertisements tailored for domestic conditions for this December, since that is when warning images will begin appearing above the price on cigarette packages,” South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on May 29.

featuring a 31-year-old man named Brandon who suffers from Buerger’s disease

The ministry will discuss the specifics of this plan during a special international seminar for World No Tobacco Day (May 31). The seminar will be taking place on May 30 at the Korea Health Promotion Foundation in Seoul.

The seminar is being hosted by the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases.

Shawn Wright, who appeared in a series of anti-smoking commercials called Tips from Former Smokers that was launched in 2012, will be attending the seminar to talk about his experiences.

As a result of his smoking habit, Wright contracted throat cancer in his 40s and had his larynx replaced by an artificial voice box.

“Moving forward, we will be working with organizations of experts to recruit participants to provide testimonials for the upcoming anti-smoking advertising that we are planning, which will be tailored to conditions in Korea,” a Ministry official said.

By Lee Chang-gon, senior staff writer

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]