People walk past an anti-smoking sign set up near an elementary school in Seoul, Aug. 16. The youth smoking rate has decreased to a 20-year low this year, about a third of the peak levels, government data showed, Friday. Newsis

The youth smoking rate has decreased to a 20-year low this year, down to about a third of the peak levels, government data showed, Friday.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's (KDCA) report on the health habits of middle and high school students, 4.8 percent of boys and 2.4 percent of girls reported using cigarettes in 2024, marking respective drops from 5.6 percent and 2.7 percent last year.

The latest figures show a trend of shunning tobacco and a drastic fall in the number of teen smokers in recent years. When the disease agency conducted its first surveys for the annual report in 2005, 14.3 percent of male and 8.9 percent of female respondents said they smoked cigarettes regularly.

This trend was also observed among vape users. Asked whether they had smoked any type of nicotine-inhaling product — including cigarettes and electronic cigarettes — over the last 30 days, 5.8 percent of male and 3.2 percent of female respondents said they had, significant falls from 10.3 percent and 4.1 percent in 2019, respectively.

Meanwhile, the teen drinking rate has also plummeted to the lowest point. Asked whether they had drunk alcohol at least once over the past month, 11.8 percent of boys said they had, down from 13 percent the previous year and 27 percent in 2005. Of girls, 7.5 percent said they had, compared with 9 percent the previous year and 26.9 percent in 2005.

The rate of binge drinking — five glasses or more of soju for men and three for women — also dwindled from 9.5 percent in 2015 to 4.8 percent in 2024 for men and from 7 percent to 3.8 percent for women.

Overall, the data indicates that young Koreans have developed healthier habits, the KDCA noted.

Jee Young-mee, commissioner at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, speaks during an event held at COEX in Seoul to mark 20 years since its inaugural report on the health habits of middle and high school students, Friday. Courtesy of Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

But not everything is positive. Asked whether they have experienced feelings of depression, 23.1 percent of male students said they had, compared with 21.4 percent last year. The rate for female students rose by 1.6 percentage points to 32.5 percent as well.

Their perceptions about sleep deprivation may have affected their mood. The report shows that the average sleep hours for students have not changed over the past year. However, 27.1 percent of boys and 16.5 percent of girls said they think the amount of their sleep was sufficient, respective decreases of 3.5 percentage points and 4.7 percentage points.

"The findings show that physical activity is on the rise after a decline during the coronavirus pandemic and smoking and drinking rates are declining steadily, but mental health and diet need more attention and support," Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said in a statement. "We ask for proactive measures as well as attention from all relevant government ministries and education offices to ensure that health policies for students are embedded in schools and produce positive results."

At an event held in Seoul to mark 20 years since the publication of the inaugural report, Jee Young-mee, commissioner of the KDCA, said the agency will continue to play a key role in promoting healthy habits for young Koreans and helping policymakers by providing accurate, timely data.