South Korea

Restricted

🌐

Online Sales

Prohibited

🏪

Offline Sales

Allowed

🎂

Legal Age

19+

🚫

Ban Scope

None

Allowed Product Types

Pod SystemDisposableRefillableHeat-not-Burn

Purchase Channels

Tobacco ShopConvenience Store

Required Certifications

KFDA certification

Complete Policy Details

Latest Developments

Policy Trends

1. South Korea has adopted a strict regulatory approach towards convergence, placing liquid electronic cigarettes under the same legal and tax framework as traditional cigarettes. 2. Existing products that have been stored before April 24, 2026 are excluded from the new legal definition, and there is a "double pricing" confusion in the short-term market. 3. The government plans to conduct safety assessments and consider regulatory options for nicotine analog products, such as 6-methylnicotine. Starting from February 2026, the regulation of vending machines will be upgraded: installation is prohibited in child protection areas, and businesses equipped with vending machines must install adult verification systems. 5. Flavor oriented marketing targeting teenagers is completely prohibited, and off campus exhibitions and sponsorship activities are also prohibited.

Taxation

-Comprehensive tax rate for liquid electronic cigarettes: currently 1823 Korean won/mL (including local tax, national tax, and additional tax). After the revision, the tax rate will enjoy a temporary 50% reduction, and the transitional tax rate will be approximately 911 Korean won/mL (for a period of two years). -Taxation items: individual consumption tax+tobacco consumption tax+local education tax+national health promotion burden fund -Taking the mainstream 30mL product in the market as an example, the after tax price is expected to increase from 10000 to 30000 Korean won to about 50000 Korean won per bottle. -Value added tax: 10% (standard tax rate)

Sales Channel Restrictions

-Online sales are completely prohibited: any form of online sales, including direct sales by manufacturers, is prohibited -All nicotine products can only be sold through government designated tobacco retail stores (registered as "tobacco retailers" by local governments) -Selling to minors is strictly prohibited and violators face punishment -Prohibit social media promotion and out of store display -Vending machines must be equipped with adult verification systems, and installation of C13 is prohibited within educational protection zones

Age Restrictions

19+

Flavour Restrictions

At present, there is no written taste ban (similar to the federal level in the United States) - flavor oriented marketing targeting young people is completely prohibited - new regulations prohibit labeling flavor substance names on packaging - flavor product sales are still legal, but flavor descriptions cannot be prominently displayed on packaging

Product Specifications

-Synthetic nicotine liquid electronic cigarettes have been officially included in the definition of tobacco and must comply with tobacco product safety and ingredient standards -Mandatory hazardous substance testing every two years (manufacturers/importers must commission testing) -Prohibition of labeling flavor substances (new regulations prohibit labeling flavor ingredients on packaging) -Prohibit adding other substances and reselling after opening the box -The original registered product continues to be sold but is not subject to new regulations (stock inventory)

Hardware Requirements

-Vending machines must be equipped with an adult age verification system (ID card reader or mobile phone authentication) -It is prohibited to install vending machines in educational protection areas such as schools and child protection zones (effective from February 2026) -There are currently no mandatory national standards for battery safety and leak proof design of hardware products, which must comply with the general standards of the Electrical Safety Law

Packaging Requirements

-Health warning images and text must cover at least 50% of the packaging surface, including pictures of diseased organs. -The packaging must be labeled with a warning message stating 'contains harmful substances'. -All ingredients (including nicotine content) must be disclosed. -Prohibit labeling of flavor substances. -Newly manufactured/imported products after April 24, 2026 must print a special identification phrase "revised product" on the label to help consumers distinguish between existing products and compliant products.

Advertising Restrictions

Prohibition of all forms of advertising, promotions, and sponsorships (including social media and outdoor displays) - Prohibition of prize giving and other promotional activities - Prohibition of social platform promotion and out of store displays - Comprehensive prohibition of traditional channels such as radio, television, printing, and outdoor billboards

Notification Requirements

-Manufacturers/importers must obtain approval from the Minister of Planning and Finance and complete local government registration before selling tobacco products. -Enterprises are required to submit a hazardous substance testing report every two years. -A complete list of product ingredients and safety data must be submitted. -Existing inventory products are not subject to the new definition, but manufacturers/importers still need to operate in compliance. -The Ministry of Health and Welfare will conduct compliance inspections starting from the end of April 2026 and cooperate with local governments and relevant agencies to enforce the law.

Policy Documents

-Amendment to the Tobacco Business Law (담배사업법) (passed by Congress in February 2026 and effective on April 24) -Provisions on Packaging Health Warning and Advertising Restrictions in the National Health Promotion Act -Revised Implementation and Management Plan for Tobacco Business Law by the Ministry of Planning and Finance (Joint Announcement on April 23, 2026) -Guidelines for Hazardous Substance Testing by the Korean Agency for Disease Control (mandatory every two years) -Provisions of the Local Tax Law on Tobacco Retail Licensing

Competent Authorities

-Ministry of Economy and Finance: Approval of tobacco manufacturers, tax policies, overall law enforcement coordination -Ministry of Health and Welfare: Health warnings, advertising restrictions, public health enforcement -Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA): Supervision of Hazardous Substance Testing, Adolescent Health Statistics -Korea Customs Service: Control of Imported Tobacco Products -Local Governments: Registration of tobacco retailers, regional law enforcement

Other

-The adult vape usage rate will be 3.8% in 2025 (2% in 2016), and the traditional cigarette smoking rate will decrease from 23.2% in 2013 to 15.9% in 2024. -The use of liquid electronic cigarettes in non-smoking areas is naturally prohibited (vape has been reclassified as tobacco), and a fine of 100000 Korean won will be imposed for violation. -The Ministry of Health and Welfare will cooperate with local governments to strengthen the enforcement of smoking bans in designated areas. -There is no specialized electronic cigarette traceability system, but the consumption tax electronic declaration system is applicable to tobacco manufacturers.

Policy Details

The revised Tobacco Business Law will officially come into effect on April 24, 2026: the definition of tobacco will be expanded from "tobacco leaves" to include "natural and synthetic nicotine", and liquid electronic cigarettes (vapes) will be officially included in the legal framework of tobacco products. 2. Comprehensive ban on online sales of synthetic nicotine products: Products made from nicotine and used for smoking, inhalation, or vaping are classified as "tobacco". Manufacturers who violate regulations may face up to three years in prison or a fine of 30 million Korean won. On May 4, 2026, the Ministry of Finance requested the police to investigate three companies suspected of manufacturing and selling high concentration nicotine solutions without a license. 4. Mandatory disclosure of health warning graphics and ingredients: Packaging must be accompanied by warning images and text, disclosing all ingredients including nicotine content. 5. Expansion of the no smoking area: Liquid electronic cigarettes are not allowed to be used in designated no smoking areas. Previously, fines for vaping (100000 Korean won/approximately 68 US dollars) were often revocable and will no longer be exempted after the implementation of the new regulations. 1. South Korea has adopted a strict regulatory approach towards convergence, placing liquid electronic cigarettes under the same legal and tax framework as traditional cigarettes. 2. Existing products that have been stored before April 24, 2026 are excluded from the new legal definition, and there is a "double pricing" confusion in the short-term market. 3. The government plans to conduct safety assessments and consider regulatory options for nicotine analog products, such as 6-methylnicotine. Starting from February 2026, the regulation of vending machines will be upgraded: installation is prohibited in child protection areas, and businesses equipped with vending machines must install adult verification systems. 5. Flavor oriented marketing targeting teenagers is completely prohibited, and off campus exhibitions and sponsorship activities are also prohibited.

Last Updated: 2026-10