Air Force doctor helps airmen fight smoking with grit and trust

Air Force doctor helps airmen fight smoking with grit and trust

For Lt. Col. Kim Young-jin, commander of the medical battalion at the Air Force’s 20th Fighter Wing, tackling smoking isn’t about strict enforcement — it’s about empathy, persistence and meeting people where they are. Recognized with a health minister’s award on World No Tobacco Day, Kim has quietly led a shift in attitudes toward smoking within the base where she serves. Since joining the military as a nurse officer in 2007, she has organized m…