The government will launch a research institute to assess the harmful effects of smoking.
 
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the research institute will open Wednesday at its headquarters in Osong, North Chungcheong Province.
 
The institute will be the first state-backed tobacco analysis lab in South Korea. Until now, the only such labs in the nation were at universities.
 
The KCDC said the institute will not only conduct epidemiological research, but will try to find empirical evidence that smoking is harmful to the body. The results will be used to establish anti-smoking policies as well as for evidence in lawsuits against tobacco companies.