Government and Organizers Clash over Vape Show in South Korea

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and related industries on the 13th, the Korea E-cigarette Promotion Agency will be hosting the "Korea Vape Show 2023" from the 21st to the 23rd of July at KINTEX in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province. This event, now in its fourth edition, is an e-cigarette exhibition where the latest e-cigarette products and technologies will be displayed and sampled.

However, the Ministry has sent a formal request to the organizers, highlighting the issues of smoking inside the venue and the lack of control over the entry of minors, urging them not to hold the event. The current Korean regulations state that smoking can only take place in completely enclosed spaces (smoking booths), yet this event showcases e-cigarettes openly on stage. During last year's event, participants puffed vapes or conducted demonstrations by exhaling vapes for an extended period of time.

Despite the ministry's concerns, the organizers plan to proceed with the event as scheduled. The organizers intend to prohibit the entry of minors by confirming their visitors' identification cards on the day of the event. Additionally, they have announced plans for exhibitors to install smoking booths in their indoor booth spaces and to prohibit e-cigarette demonstration events.

However, the Ministry still plans to conduct on-site inspections on the day of the event, as there may be instances of smoking in non-smoking areas and violations of the law. As a conflict arises between the government and the organizers, domestic tobacco companies are concerned that the negative image of e-cigarettes may spread, leading to further government regulations.

In reality, while the government considers both heated tobacco products and liquid-type e-cigarettes to have harmful ingredients similar to conventional cigarettes, the industry claims that heated tobacco products are 95% less harmful than conventional cigarettes and actively promotes the switch to e-cigarettes. Some tobacco brands, including BAT Luckies, are considering entering the e-cigarette market for portfolio diversification.

Amidst this situation, concerns have been raised about the potential contraction of the liquid-type e-cigarette market due to conflicts between the organizers and the health authorities. As the controversy surrounding this event unfolded, some have suggested actively considering including liquid-type e-cigarettes in the Tobacco Business Act to strengthen regulations.

The concern is that although liquid-type e-cigarettes are subject to lower taxes compared to conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and online sales are allowed, the harmful substances and quantities are not properly disclosed. An industry representative stated, "Small businesses and roadshow brands handle most liquid-type e-cigarettes. If controversies such as indoor vaping and exposure to minors arise from this event, it may lead to a more negative perception of the e-cigarette market."

As the conflicts between the government and the organizers intensify, a resolution will be critical not only for the hosting of this event but also for the future development of the e-cigarette industry in South Korea.