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Tag: South Korea

  • South Korea Sees Surge in Nicotine-Free Vape Imports

    South Korea Sees Surge in Nicotine-Free Vape Imports

    Imports of nicotine-free e-cigarette liquid in South Korea more than doubled to $9.2 million in the first eight months of 2026 from $4.5 million a year earlier, as consumers shifted toward products that remain outside the country’s tobacco regulations. The increase follows an April amendment to the Tobacco Business Act that brought products containing natural or synthetic nicotine under the tobacco regulatory framework, while nicotine analogues and nicotine-free liquids remain largely unregulated.

    Online listings for liquid e-cigarettes also increased 86.3% to 42,437 as of Aug. 8 from 22,774 before the law took effect, according to the Korea Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. Meanwhile, imports of synthetic nicotine liquid plunged 97% to $2.8 million from May through August, compared with $89.3 million in the first four months of the year. Government officials are considering broader regulation after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety completes an assessment of nicotine analogues by the end of 2026.

  • South Korea’s Tobacco Companies Take Different Strategies on Alternatives

    South Korea’s Tobacco Companies Take Different Strategies on Alternatives

    South Korea’s major tobacco companies are taking different approaches to the growing e-cigarette market, according to Business Post. KT&G is focusing on premium products, Philip Morris Korea is expanding into liquid e-cigarettes, and BAT is strengthening its heated-tobacco lineup as competition in the country’s alternative nicotine market intensifies.

    The article says these strategies reflect broader efforts to expand beyond traditional cigarettes and capture demand for newer nicotine products. KT&G, Philip Morris, and BAT have established positions in South Korea’s heated-tobacco market, while the companies are increasingly broadening their portfolios across different categories of electronic nicotine products.

  • Korea Weighs Raising Cigarette Prices as Smoking Rates Fall

    Korea Weighs Raising Cigarette Prices as Smoking Rates Fall

    South Korea is considering higher cigarette prices as conventional smoking rates continue to decline, according to The Seoul Economic Daily. The share of adults who smoke cigarettes fell to 17% in 2025 from 23.9% in 2016, according to the 2025 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey released Sept. 30 by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The smoking rate was 28% among men and 5.5% among women. The decline accelerated after the government raised the price of a pack to 4,500 won ($3.33) in 2015 from 2,500 won ($1.85).

    South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has included raising cigarette prices toward the OECD average as a medium- to long-term goal in its 6th National Health Promotion Master Plan for 2026-2030. Analysts say cigarette prices have since failed to keep pace with inflation, with consumer prices rising 22.8% since 2015 while cigarette prices remained unchanged. The average cigarette price across the 38 OECD member countries was 9,869 won ($7.30) in 2023, more than twice South Korea’s price.

  • Pseudonicotine Up, Synthetic Nicotine Down in Korea

    Pseudonicotine Up, Synthetic Nicotine Down in Korea

    Imports of pseudonicotine into South Korea’s surged after the government expanded tobacco regulations to cover synthetic nicotine, according to data from the Korea Customs Service. From April through August 2026, 12,126 kg of pseudonicotine valued at $463,422 was imported, with imports reaching 10,222 kg in April compared with 364 kg when customs began separately tracking the product category in October 2025.

    By comparison, synthetic nicotine imports fell sharply after regulation took effect in April. Imports totaled 231,663 kg from April through August, down from 1.28 million kg in the first three months of 2026. National Assembly member Moon Jin-seok said the shift raises concerns about tax avoidance because pseudonicotine is not currently subject to the same taxation as synthetic nicotine, and called for changes to the legal definition of tobacco.

  • Nicotine-Like Products Expose Blind Spot in Korean Vape Rules

    Nicotine-Like Products Expose Blind Spot in Korean Vape Rules

    South Korea is facing a regulatory gap involving nicotine-free and nicotine-imitation e-cigarette liquids following an April revision to the Tobacco Business Act that brought natural and synthetic nicotine products under government oversight, according to a report in The Korea Times. The revised law does not cover liquids without nicotine or those containing nicotine substitutes such as 6-methylnicotine, leaving some products outside tobacco advertising, sales, and disclosure rules. A 2024 Korea Consumer Agency survey found actual nicotine in seven of 12 online products labeled nicotine-free, while five of 15 e-cigarette liquids examined lacked required warning labels.

    The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to complete a safety assessment of 6-methylnicotine this year and examine other nicotine-imitation substances, while the National Assembly Research Service has called for stronger coordination among government agencies and new rules covering advertising, vending machines, and product disclosures.

  • South Korea Scrutinizing ‘Nicotine-Free’ Vape Claims

    South Korea Scrutinizing ‘Nicotine-Free’ Vape Claims

    South Korea is increasing oversight of “nicotine-free” and nicotine analogue vaping products after government tests found some contained nicotine or 6-methyl nicotine despite their labeling. The Korea Times says the market has grown rapidly since April, when synthetic nicotine products became subject to tobacco regulations and higher taxes, driving demand for products marketed as regulatory alternatives. Imports of nicotine-free vapes climbed to 164 tons in 2025 from 95 tons in 2022, with most sourced from China.

    The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said testing of 105 products found nicotine in 13 and 6-methyl nicotine in 12. The government is now conducting toxicity assessments, investigating unlicensed businesses, and preparing broader regulatory measures expected later this year. Industry representatives say the products exploit a legal loophole by avoiding tobacco regulations while being marketed as nicotine-free.

  • Korean Study Finds Heavy Smoking Ups Fatty Liver Risk 41% in Young Men

    Korean Study Finds Heavy Smoking Ups Fatty Liver Risk 41% in Young Men

    A large South Korean study found that heavy smoking is associated with a significantly higher risk of fatty liver disease among young adults, adding to evidence linking smoking with metabolic liver disorders. Researchers from Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital and Ewha Womans University analyzed health screening data from nearly 3.5 million adults aged 20 to 39 and found that men who smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day had a 41% greater risk of developing fatty liver disease, while smoking for 10 to 19 years increased risk by 15%.

    Although relatively few women in the study smoked, female smokers with a 10- to 19-year history faced an even greater increase in risk. The researchers said the findings support strengthening smoking cessation policies, noting that smoking appears to increase fatty liver risk independently of obesity and alcohol consumption.

  • South Korea Tightening Tobacco Enforcement After Compliance Failures

    South Korea Tightening Tobacco Enforcement After Compliance Failures

    The Seoul Metropolitan Government launched tighter enforcement of South Korea’s revised Tobacco Business Act after inspections found widespread compliance failures among liquid e-cigarette retailers and significant weaknesses in vending machine age-verification systems. Between April 24 and June 23, authorities inspected 666 retailers and found that 28.5% operated vending machines. Of 415 machines examined, 339 used ID-based age verification, but 168 accepted forged or altered identification during testing, while 112 recognized every fake ID used.

     Inspectors also found inadequate youth warning signage and advertising violations, with many in-store advertisements visible from outside. The city said it will push for stronger ID verification requirements, require retailers to improve age-checking systems, distribute compliant warning labels, and continue inspections as liquid e-cigarette use continues to rise, particularly among adolescents, whose 2025 vaping rate exceeded conventional cigarette smoking for the first time.

  • Korea Subjects Synthetic Nicotine to Tobacco Rules

    Korea Subjects Synthetic Nicotine to Tobacco Rules

    South Korea announced that it has begun full enforcement of revised tobacco regulations that classify all nicotine-containing products—including synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes—as tobacco products. Following a two-month transition period after amendments to the Tobacco Business Act took effect in April, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments launched nationwide inspections on June 24, targeting compliance in non-smoking areas and cigarette vending machine operations. Individuals caught using cigarettes, heated tobacco products, or liquid e-cigarettes in designated non-smoking areas can face fines of up to 100,000 won ($65).

    The revised law expands the legal definition of tobacco from products made from tobacco leaves to all nicotine-containing products, bringing synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes under existing restrictions on use, advertising, sales, and health warnings. Authorities are also inspecting vending machines to ensure compliance with age-verification and youth-access requirements. The regulatory changes come as e-cigarette use continues to rise in South Korea, with government data showing liquid e-cigarette use increased from 4% to 4.5% over the past year and by more than 70% over the past seven years. The government said the new framework is intended to strengthen public health protections and close regulatory gaps involving synthetic nicotine products.

  • Korea Signals Tobacco Policy Overhaul, Price Increases

    Korea Signals Tobacco Policy Overhaul, Price Increases

    South Korean Health Minister Jung Eun-kyeong signaled a broader review of tobacco control policies, citing relatively low cigarette prices, growing use of e-cigarettes, flavored tobacco products and synthetic nicotine, and the need for both price and non-price measures. Cigarette prices have remained at 4,500 won ($2.97) per pack since 2015, well below the OECD average level of 9,869 won ($6.51) referenced in the government’s 2026–2030 National Health Promotion Plan.

    While Jung stressed that an immediate tax increase is not under active consideration, she said tobacco pricing, advertising restrictions, and other regulatory measures would be reviewed as part of a new anti-smoking strategy aligned with changing market conditions and public health objectives.