Sales of cigarettes in South Korea last year fell from a year earlier due mainly to an economic slowdown and widespread anti-smoking movements, industry data showed Monday.According to the data, Ministop Korea, the local operator of the Japan-based convenience chain store, saw its cigarette sales fall 7.6 percent on-year in 2012.Korea Seven Co. said cigarette sales at its 7-Eleven convenience stores dropped 4.3 percent on-year in 2012, and GS25 chains, run by local retail conglomerate GS Corp.,

Philip Morris Korea Inc. on Monday opened its refurbished cigarette manufacturing factory in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, the Korean unit of the international tobacco manufacturer said. The plant, which is equipped with raw material processing and packaging facilities, can produce 40 billion cigarettes per year, almost double that of the previous factory built in 2002. Philips Morris was the first multinational cigarette maker to have its own production line in Korea with an aim to better

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ― More work needs to be done to keep young Americans from using tobacco, including creating smoking bans and increasing taxes on tobacco products, the U.S. Surgeon General’s office said in a report released Thursday.Almost one in five high school-aged teens smokes, down from earlier decades, but the rate of decline has slowed, the report said.It says it’s particularly important to stop young people from using tobacco because those who start smoking as teenagers can increase th

Company targets sector that grows fastBritish American Tobacco Korea is striving to shore up its presence in the Korean market with premium cigarette products.The Korean unit of the global manufacturer has been diversifying its portfolio of pricey cigarettes with Dunhill and Kent brands in a bid to

Philip Morris International Inc., the multinational tobacco group, said Wednesday it has appointed Chong Il-woo as managing director for the Korean unit.Chong, 49, will oversee management and orchestrate the unit’s strategy and business, the company said. Chong Il-wooPrior to the new post, Chong headed the Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indochina operation for the U.S.-based conglomerate. He st