Jeju Autonomous Police Unit Cracks Down on Illegal Tobacco Proxy Purchases Targeting Even Elementary School Students

Three Cases of Violations of the Youth Protection Act Including Proxy Tobacco Purchases for Elementary and Adolescent Students

[Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won] The Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Autonomous Police Unit (Chief Go Chang-gyeong) announced on the 3rd that it has identified three individuals who illegally sold and provided cigarettes, a harmful substance to youth, by proxy purchasing cigarettes for elementary and teenage students, on charges of violating the Youth Protection Act.

According to the current Youth Protection Act, cigarettes and alcohol are classified as harmful substances to youth, and their sale and provision to minors are prohibited.

The Autonomous Police Unit received intelligence that the so-called ‘Daelgu’ activity?proxy purchasing of alcohol and cigarettes for youth through social networking services (SNS) for a commission?was secretly thriving. From the 1st of last month, they conducted a special investigation for three weeks targeting violations of the Youth Protection Act.

The investigation revealed that those caught promoted proxy cigarette purchases via Twitter and sold and provided cigarettes not only to teenagers but even to elementary school students.

The proxy purchaser Mr. A (40 years old, male) posted promotional messages under the Twitter account named ‘Cigarette Proxy Purchase’ and arranged the quantity and type of cigarettes through direct messages (DMs). He then met buyers in secluded places such as parks or apartment shopping areas to sell cigarettes directly. He was caught selling cigarettes to two individuals, including a 5th-grade elementary school student, charging a commission of 3,000 KRW per pack.

High school student Mr. B (17 years old) posted promotional messages on Twitter since May, confirming buyers and selling cigarettes a total of 21 times, charging a commission of 4,500 KRW for e-cigarettes and 2,000 KRW for regular cigarettes.

High school student Ms. C (18 years old) also used Twitter from June to sell cigarettes a total of 8 times using the same method, charging a commission of 2,000 KRW for cigarettes and 1,500 KRW for lighters, selling proxy-purchased items to youth including elementary school students.

As a result of the investigation, the proxy purchaser Mr. A and convenience store owners Mr. D (52 years old, male) and Mr. E (39 years old, male), who sold cigarettes to minors B and C without verifying their identities, were investigated on charges of violating the Youth Protection Act and were sent to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment without detention.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s ‘2020 Survey on Harmful Media Environment for Youth,’ 20.8% of youth who experienced smoking in the past month had cigarettes purchased for them by proxy.

One in five smoking youths uses proxy purchasing. This investigation revealed that proxy purchasing of cigarettes and similar items is especially widespread around elementary and middle schools.

Go Chang-gyeong, Chief of the Jeju Autonomous Police Unit, stated, “We will make every effort to protect youth from harmful environments by working closely with related organizations such as the National Police and the Office of Education, centered on the Autonomous Police Commission, and by strictly punishing acts of selling and providing harmful substances like alcohol and cigarettes to youth.”

Jeju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Chang-won baekok@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.