<Anchor>

Many of you have vowed to quit smoking for the new year. In the United States, the age of buying cigarettes has increased from 18 to 21 years old. That means cigarettes are bad for you.

First, correspondent Kim Soo-hyung, Washington.

<Reporter>

I bought a pack of cigarettes in Washington, DC.

I check my age on my ID, match the age calculator, and say I can't sell cigarettes unless I'm 21 years old today.

[Lim Kim / Tobacco Store Employee: Someone like a minor wants to smoke without an ID? We can't sell No.]

The US Food and Drug Administration has prevented tobacco stores throughout the United States from selling all cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, under the age of 21.

90% of US smokers start smoking before the age of 18, making it as late as possible.

The National Institute of Medical Research found that a 21-year-old smoking policy could reduce the overall smoking rate by 12 percent and save 223,000 lives.

The reason why the United States pulled out the first ban on tobacco sales under the age of 21 is that nicotine addiction has become out of control as the e-cigarette Jool spreads like a pandemic among young Americans.

The deaths of lung disease, presumed to be caused by e-cigarettes, have caused tobacco companies to agree to the 21-year-old tobacco sales bill.

[Matthew Meyer / Non-Smoking Group Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Representative: Starting to sell cigarettes from the age of 21 is a very good first step. This alone cannot succeed. Especially with regard to e-cigarettes, it is very important to get rid of fragrance-added products.]

The FDA is expected to ban all e-cigarettes sold this week except tobacco and mint.

(Video coverage: Oh Jung-sik, Video editing: Jeon Min-kyu)

▶ [Actually] 'Growing Age of Cigarette Purchase' Global Trend… South Korea?