25 days and counting.

Cigarettes are usually not sexy.

Unlike many western countries, smoking is still very popular in Korea; especially among young men. It is said most male smokers begin during their mandatory military service, which is a very stressful rite of passage. In this time, the smokers outnumber the non-smokers, so it's thought unpopular to be a non-smoker. Even in the workplace, the non-smokers lose an extra opportunity to network with coworkers during smoke breaks. Cigarettes are extremely cheap in Korea, selling around 2,000 or 3,000 Won ($2.00 - 3.00) a pack. Most restaurants and bars allow smoking, and the patrons usually oblige. Yet, in a culture so open and supportive of smoking, women are expected not to smoke. The standard is slowly fading, and more companies are marketing products to the female population; but the gender disparity remains.