Tag Archive for: South Korea

South Korea Faces New “Nicotine Analog” Threat Amid Vape Law Changes

As South Korea tightens its grip on tobacco with a new bill to regulate synthetic nicotine passing the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a new challenge has emerged: “nicotine analogs.” These chemical substances, chemically similar to nicotine but legally distinct due to slight molecular modifications, are rapidly expanding in the market, exploiting regulatory loopholes.

Read more

South Korea Advances Bill to Tax Synthetic Nicotine as Tobacco

South Korea’s National Assembly has taken a major step towards regulating synthetic nicotine by advancing a bill to classify it as “tobacco” under the Tobacco Business Act. The amendment, approved by the subcommittee on economic and fiscal policy, seeks to broaden the legal definition of tobacco from just “tobacco leaf” to “tobacco or nicotine.” This change would subject liquid e-cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine to the same taxes and regulations as traditional tobacco products for the first time in 37 years.

Read more

South Korea Mandates Disclosure of Harmful Vape Ingredients

The South Korean government has finalized the list of harmful ingredients in tobacco and vaping products that manufacturers and importers must now test for and disclose to the public. This move is a follow-up measure to the new Tobacco Harmful Substance Management Act, which came into effect earlier this month.

Read more

South Korea to Regulate “Pseudo-Nicotine” Amid Vape Law Evasion

South Korea is moving to close a new loophole in its tobacco laws as the industry reportedly shifts to “pseudo-nicotine” to evade an impending crackdown on synthetic nicotine. An amendment to the Tobacco Business Act, which redefines “tobacco” to include products made from synthetic nicotine (such as e-cigarette liquids), has recently passed the parliamentary Strategy and Finance Committee. This change is expected to generate an additional 930 billion won in tax revenue.

Read more

South Korea to Tax E-Cigarettes with New Nicotine Law

A South Korean bill to revise the Tobacco Business Act, which would classify synthetic nicotine as a tobacco product, has cleared its first major hurdle at the National Assembly. The amendment, approved by the Strategy and Finance Committee’s subcommittee on economic and fiscal policy, expands the legal definition of tobacco from being derived from “tobacco leaf” to “tobacco or nicotine.”

Read more

South Korea Bans E-Cigarette Vending Machines Near Schools

South Korea’s National Assembly has passed an amendment to the “Education Environment Protection Act,” effectively banning the installation and operation of liquid e-cigarette vending machines in designated school protection zones. The bill was proposed by Assemblywoman Kang Kyung-sook of the Rebuilding Korea Party.

Read more

Indonesia, China, and South Korea Lead World in Smoking Rates

Smoking continues to be a major global health problem, causing over eight million premature deaths annually, including 1.3 million from secondhand smoke, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). New analysis reveals that Indonesia, China, and South Korea have some of the highest smoking rates globally, particularly driven by an overwhelming prevalence among men.

Read more

South Korea Calls Stricter E-Cig Laws, Synthetic Nicotine Ban

South Korea is grappling with increasing e-cigarette use, especially among young people, prompting calls from bodies like the National Assembly Research Service for urgent regulatory action. A key concern is the current legal loophole for synthetic nicotine, which is not classified as a tobacco product under existing laws, thereby evading tobacco taxes and stricter sales regulations.

Read more

Tax Disparity Between Liquid and Solid E-Cigarettes in South Korea Sparks Equity Concerns

Concerns raised in South Korea over lower taxes on solid-form e-cigarettes compared to liquid types, prompting calls for tax system reform for fairness.

A significant difference in taxation standards based on product structure persists in South Korea’s e-cigarette market, leading to debates over fairness and calls for regulatory reform. Specifically, products using nicotine in solid form are subject to much lower tax rates compared to their liquid-based counterparts.

Read more

South Korea E-Liquid Imports Surge Amid Synthetic Nicotine Loophole

South Korea witnessed a dramatic rise in e-liquid imports last year, reaching $85.64 million – a 39.5% increase from 2023, according to customs data. This upward trend continues, with first-quarter 2025 imports already up 8.5% year-over-year. Critics argue this surge highlights a significant “regulatory blind spot” concerning synthetic nicotine.

Read more