KT&G strikes up blue band LIP technology in South Korea

KT&G said yesterday that it would launch South Korea’s first low-ignition propensity (LIP) cigarettes later this month, according to a story in The Korea Herald.

The company says it has developed independently a “blue band” system for producing LIP cigarettes, a system that applies chemicals to the cigarette paper.

It has five patent applications submitted or pending in respect of the blue band technology.

The LIP paper is due to be used from July 23 on three of KT&G cigarettes within its The One brand of products.

It will then be rolled out to the rest of the company’s cigarettes.

Cigarettes in Korea are not required by law to have LIP paper.