Korean Americans and Smoking
  Smoking in Korean culture is sometimes associated with dignity, seniority, and status. However, the health effects of smoking include premature death, as well as other health-related conditions.

Korea is known to have one of the highest prevalence of smoking in the world. In 1997, 68% of Korean males over the age of 15 were found to smoke cigarettes. Among Korean Americans, studies have found smoking rates to range from 27% to 39%. In Korean American families, it is usually the males that are the smokers, which means that for Korean women and children, second hand smoke is a growing health concern. It is estimated that 27% of Korean American women are exposed to second hand smoke at home every day.
   
What is Second Hand Smoke?
  Second hand smoke is the combination of smoke emitted from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, and smoke exhaled by the smoker.
   
Health Effects of Second Hand Smoke
Nonsmokers who live with smokers in homes where smoking is allowed are at
  the greatest risk for suffering the negative health effects of secondhand smoke exposure.
Secondhand smoke is a risk factor for lung cancer.
Second hand smoke may also cause heart disease.
Second hand smoke may cause asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
  (SIDS), bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections in children.
The lungs of infants and young children are especially sensitive to exposure
  to second-hand smoke, one reason being that they are still developing physically.
   
Facts About Second Hand Smoke in the Home
Harmful chemicals from smoking can cling to rugs, curtains, clothes, and
  other materials and can remain there even if smoking took place days, weeks, or months earlier.
Second Hand Smoke spreads from one room to another even if the door
  of the smoking area is closed.
Studies have shown that separating smokers and nonsmokers within the
  same air space may reduce, but not eliminate, nonsmokers' exposure to secondhand smoke.
   
What You Can Do to Keep Your Home Smoke-Free
Decide that you want to make the change.
Individuals can reduce their exposure to secondhand smoke by telling friends
  and relatives politely that smoking is not allowed in your home.
Put a sign on your door to let others know that smoking is not permitted
  in your home.
Don't keep ashtrays around.
If you or a family member is a smoker, join a tobacco cessation
  program to quit.
   
Tips to Limit Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
If the smoker is unwilling to go outside, suggest ways to limit the exposure
  to smoke for you and your children. Maybe a room could be set aside for
  smoking - one that is seldom used by other members of the household.
  Some smokers protect others at home by smoking near an open window
  or when no one is around.
Help children avoid secondhand smoke if smokers do use tobacco around
  them. Have them leave the room or play outside while an adult is smoking.
  Air rooms out after smoking occurs. Keep smokers away from places children sleep.
Keep rooms well ventilated. Open windows.
   
Benefits of a Smoke Free Home
Air in home will be fresher, cleaner, and smell better.
Time, money, and energy saved from not having to clean curtains, walls,
  windows, and mirrors as often.
Resale value of home will be greater.
Decrease the chance of a fire in the home.