1.
Driver tries to light cigarette with matches - fails
7 ft

2.
Man on park bench ditto - PAN down to spent matches
15 ft

3.
CU Whang opening pack of cigarettes, takes out one and lights it by striking head
30 ft

4.
CU 'Patience' sign on his office wall
32 ft

5.
Fan whirring PAN as Whang and others demonstrate how his cigarette can be lit in wind
39 ft

6.
Cutaway
41 ft

7.
CU Whang picks up lighting device, inserts it into head of cigarette and stokes up
0.59



Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: While many organisations campaign against cigarettes, one man in South Korea has come with an idea to make smoking easier. He has invented the self-lighting cigarette - which he sees as the answer to those who struggle to light up while, for example, they are driving or in a windy street.

Mr Whang Kyu-bong, a scientist turned inventor from Seoul, has invented a cigarette which is lit by striking its head just like a match. Matches and cigarette lighters will be a thing of the past for smokers if his idea catches on.

Already one French company has offered Mr Whang US$5 million for the copyright to the patent. Mr Whang is holding out for US$10 million and is confident he will get it.

He has spent thirteen years developing the self-lighting cigarette. He had to sell a lot of his assets and borrow US$20,000 to survive while perfecting his invention.

With so many industrial spies around, Mr Whang refuses to show how the built-in lighting device is made. But he claims it will not leave any adverse taste and will no cost any more than an ordinary match.

As Mr Whang sees it, the slogan 'Light up a cigarette' has had its day. Now it will be simply 'Strike a cigarette.'