Philip Morris hopes to grow despite health risks 

Philip Morris Korea, an affiliate of Philip Morris International, one of the world’s largest tobacco companies, had trouble penetrating the local market when it arrived here 20 years ago.

Koreans had long been suspicious of imported products. . . .

“This year, we plan to advance and accelerate even more in terms of business growth,” said Managing Director Roman Militsyn yesterday at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building as the company celebrated its 20th anniversary. He added, “There is yet more room to grow.”

But the number of Koreans being treated for lung cancer, a leading complication of smoking, increased from 62,000 in 2005 to 71,000 last year, according to the Korean Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

“I must agree that a tobacco product is a dangerous product,” Militsyn said. “I strongly support the regulations on all areas from how they’re made, taxed, marketed, sold and consumed.”

Korea levies a 641-won tax on each pack of 20 cigarettes, and the Health Ministry has designated 20 Seoul restaurants as non-smoking.

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