Direct tobacco use was responsible for more than 72,000 deaths in 2022 alone, with socioeconomic losses estimated at over 13 trillion won ($9.4 billion).

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released its Study on Smoking-Associated Deaths and Socioeconomic Burden on Friday.

To calculate the number of deaths and the risk of death due to direct smoking, the KDCA analyzed data from four cohorts, including the Customized Database for Smoking Cessation Research and Statistics Korea's Cause of Death Statistics.

According to the findings, the number of deaths attributed to direct smoking was 61,360 in 2020, 63,426 in 2021, and 72,689 in 2022.

In 2022, the risk of death for current smokers was 1.7 times higher for men and 1.8 times higher for women compared to non-smokers. Among former smokers, the risk was 1.1 times higher for men and 1.3 times higher for women.

The socioeconomic costs of direct smoking were estimated at 12.8 trillion won in 2020, 12.9 trillion won in 2021, and 13.6 trillion won in 2022. These figures include medical expenses, premature death, and productivity losses due to medical utilization.

Medical expenses accounted for 33.7 percent of total socioeconomic costs in 2020 (4.34 trillion won), 35.7 percent in 2021 (4.36 trillion won), and 35.1 percent in 2022 (4.78 trillion won).

“Smoking is the most representative health hazard, causing chronic diseases including various cancers. Practicing smoking cessation is crucial not only for individual health but also for the future health of society,” said KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee. “The government will regularly calculate the number of deaths and socioeconomic costs attributable to smoking to provide scientific evidence for national tobacco control policies and smoking cessation programs.”