Health ministry vice minister joins no-smoking run with 72 youths

Vice Minister Lee Hyung-hoon joined 72 young adults Sunday for a 10-kilometer run at the National Incheon University Songdo Campus to promote a smoke-free lifestyle.

The event, held in conjunction with the 2026 Incheon Songdo International Marathon, was the latest activity under the No-Dam Social Club 2.0 initiative, which encourages teenagers and young adults to adopt healthy habits based on their personal interests. The campaign was designed to expand voluntary participation by grounding smoking prevention in the specific hobbies that already engage the demographic.

Singer Sean, the running club captain, participated alongside 20 members in their 20s and 52 in their 30s selected through a preliminary recruitment drive. Before the race, the group chanted "Of course, no smoking!" followed by post-run discussions and quizzes.

The broader campaign comprises four groups focused on running, books, movies, and science, aiming to make non-smoking a shared cultural value. Between July 31 and August 23, the ministry recruited 400 club members for online missions and offline activities led by captains in each field.

The running event followed a movie club gathering on September 12, where 128 members attended a dialogue session with director Lee Seung-guk. The ministry plans to continue with a science club event led by captain Gwedo on October 3 and a book club outdoor concert hosted by captain Kim Min-kyung on October 15.

"It is important to enjoy healthy hobbies like running while sharing the no-smoking message with peers," Lee said. "We will strive to naturally spread the no-smoking culture through participatory prevention campaigns that closely approach the interests and daily lives of teenagers and young adults."