Smokers - how has your smoking changed since you've been in Korea?

[ljrobs]

I've personally quit so many times...Before moving to Korea I had stopped for almost a year, then the habit returned soon after I arrived. Kinda been on and off since then. At the moment haven't smoked since Christmas...So almost 4 months now without smoking. Hope to keep it up.

kick the habit...it can be done 

[Pauliver]

I had quit a few months before arriving here. If there was any chance of me not jumping off the wagon, it was killed by the week long quarantine orientation. We all smoked like we were in prison.

[ismellbatman]

I feel like everyone smokes like crazy in Korea, especially my own students. Our school has been on a recent campaign to stop the excessive smoking. They usually go in the bathrooms during lunch or other times when teachers are away. The school tried locking the popular bathrooms, but this just sent the students outside and caused some pile ups of used cigarettes.

[jknott01]

i quit smoking before i came to Korea. About two weeks ago my friend offered me a cigarette at a bar. I took it and I'm still sick.

[buachaillbui]

Bloody hell it's hard eh??

The low cost of the smokes has made it incredibly hard to stop, added to the ease at which you smoke in most environments. I'll keep trying though. Smoking menthols does count, something I tried to convince myself that it was only cool mint I was inhaling.

[ajrodrigues]

I only occasionally smoked before Korea. More of a social smoker, but in Korea cigarettes are so cheap! I stay in a small town and nearly all the foreigners smoke. It's just so affordable and because everyone smokes,it's acceptable! I'm still getting used to the way that smokers can smoke in bars. Korea is definitely smoker friendly and I can see myself becoming a chain smoker at this rate.

[zoehwaseong]

I was a semi-smoker for the past four years (college) and being in Korea has defintiely stepped up my smoking.  The cheap prices combined with a tolerance for it in most situations is hard to overcome..

[drewmuir]

Being allowed to smoke in bars has definately upped my game!

[daej83]

I smoke Marlborugh Lights and the fact that cigs are sooo cheap is just too tempting so my smoking has probably increased. I do however feel that the quality of cigarettes are far inferior to cigarettes in the West?? Does anybody agree with me on this? And anyone know why that is?

[hilbert07]

I don't smoke but because you guys are soooo cool it really makes me want too

[asianman32]

I just got told by a police officer that you are no longer alowed to smoke near the chungaechun... apparently seoul is starting to make certain places smoke free.  From what I have been told is that there is going to be a fine for smoking in nonsmoking spaces.

[Mitch]

Yes. When I first arrived I was a light smoker, maybe a pack a week. The stress of a Hagwon job coupled with how inexpensive delicious Marlboro menthols are, I developed a terrible pack a day habit. Fortunately I decided to quit for real after much trial and error.

[londonbhoy67]

During the day I'm probably smoking less than when I was back home cos I can't smoke when Im at work. But definitely smoking a lot more on the weekends now that you can smoke in any bars. Chain smoking as well cos the cigarettes are so cheap.

[Matome]

Well, the cigarettes are so cheap it would be a travesty not to indulge. Especially in bars, after a few drinks; it just makes sense to take a puff.
But then, it is quite embarassing to be the only smoker in a school with only 7 teachers, so at least no smoking during the day. But come the weekend, the lighters come out and a few packs of Menthol vanish.... funny how  that works out

[jpar252]

YEAP, definitely becoming a victim of chain smoking here
I stopped smoking for about 10 months and started just before coming here, and now the cigs are soooo cheap that I've pretty much doubled the amount I smoke a week..

[jenna740]

I go all day at school without even thinking about having a cigarette and if I'm not up to much in the evening, I can easily smoke at least 10, then the weekends it's worse. If I was at home, I would definitely be more conscious because of the cost. But here there's not stopping me. What annoys me the most is that I wish it would be the health problems and not the price that worries me back home!

[wanderingemily]

My smoking habits are always in flux, though since being in Korea, I've been on the heavy side... Coming from a city where a pack was $8 and there was no smoking in any restaurants or bars, I definitely blame the low prices and the prevalence in public places... It is way different  for female smokers... but I also blame this on my increase because I get sick sick pleasure from rocking the older generation's boats with my obscene loose woman habits... gimme a cig and bare shoulders any damn day!

[cactusg]

Being in Korea has increased my smoking

[Lee_Lee]

My smoking has definitely increased. I try not to smoke as much during the week and definitely not at school (since I'm female). But out at the bars and on the weekends, I'm a chain smoker. Too cheap, too many places to smoke.

Interestingly enough, I didn't know how female smokers were viewed in this country until I casually mentioned it to my co-teacher the first day. Since then I make sure I don't where people can see me, especially anyone from my school. I sometimes worry my students will catch me smoking while I'm out and about town, but that doesn't really stop me.

[aldritg]

I've cut back during the week considerably.  But, really, that's only because my school forbids smoking while at work.

It blows... but at least I'm cutting back.