Tobacco.org

• Anti-Smoking Lawsuit Takes New Turn 

After a 2007 landmark court decision that recognized the cause-and-effect relationship between smoking and cancer, anti-smoking crusaders have been rearranging their focus to address the additives contained in cigarettes. This time, a court is showing renewed interest in the issue amid a growing public awareness over the harmful effects of smoking.

The legal battle dates back to 1999 when a group of lung cancer patients and distraught families filed a damages suit against KT&G, Korea's largest tobacco company by sales volume.

It took the court eight years to reach the conclusion that smoking can cause lung cancer but denied a request for compensation, stating that it couldn't be ruled out that other factors besides smoking had caused their affliction.

Now, the families and victims, supported by a group of lawyers, are changing their tack, claiming that KT&G uses additives to make cigarettes more addictive, and therefore more difficult quit.

For the first time, the presiding judge in the appeal case visited the KT&G factory to conduct an on-site inspection.

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