South Korea Cigarette Smoking Drops 29% as E-Cigarette Use Doubles

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released findings from its 2025 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, tracking health behaviors across 4,800 households and roughly 10,000 participants. The data reveals a decade-long shift in how South Koreans consume nicotine.

Shift in Tobacco and Vaping Consumption

Between 2016 and 2025, traditional combustible cigarette smoking dropped by 29%, declining from 23.9% to 17.0%. In contrast, liquid e-cigarette use more than doubled over the same period, rising from 2.3% to 4.8%.

For total tobacco product consumption in 2025, the rate stood at 36.3% for men (up 0.3 percentage points from 2024) and 8.6% for women (up 1.7 percentage points from 2024).

Declines in Alcohol Intake and Mental Health Metrics

Alcohol consumption metrics improved across the country. The monthly binge drinking rate—defined as drinking seven or more glasses for men or five or more for women at a single sitting at least once a month—fell to 35.1%. This reduction was most pronounced among young adults in their 20s, with rates falling 8.0 percentage points for men and 6.2 percentage points for women.

The survey also evaluated social well-being indicators. Average life satisfaction scored 6.9 out of 10. However, more than 10% of respondents in their 20s, 30s, and 70s rated their satisfaction below 4 points. Additionally, 6.4% of participants reported feeling lonely frequently, with women in their 30s reporting the highest rate at 9.7%.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.