According to South Korean media KoreaTimes, on May 15th, the government plans to amend tobacco-related laws to classify synthetic nicotine as a type of tobacco in order to regulate the product category. This product category is becoming increasingly popular among young smokers.
According to officials, the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy and Finance plan to amend the law to include synthetic nicotine in the definition of tobacco within the Tobacco Business Act. In South Korea, laws related to tobacco fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health under the National Health Promotion Act, while the Tobacco Business Act is overseen by the Ministry of Finance. Tobacco products are defined as "products made with tobacco as all or part of the raw material, manufactured in a form suitable for smoking, sucking, inhaling smoke, chewing, or sniffing".
According to this argument, liquid for synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes does not fall under tobacco regulations. As a result, synthetic nicotine is currently not subject to regulatory measures such as requiring warning labels for potential health issues. There is also no legal basis for penalties for selling tobacco to minors, and no need to pay tobacco-related taxes.
This follows the recent announcement by British American Tobacco Company that they are considering launching a new synthetic nicotine product in the country, leading to the decision to make legal revisions. South Korea is the only country in the world where a global tobacco giant is considering launching synthetic nicotine products.
An official from the Ministry of Health stated, "We have decided to push for revisions to the tobacco industry law at the opening of the 22nd National Congress." He added, "We will provide the necessary materials to the Ministry of Finance, and there is already ample evidence proving that synthetic nicotine is indeed tobacco.
The market share of e-cigarettes in the overall tobacco market in the country continues to increase, and is expected to reach 16.9% of total sales by 2023.
We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.
Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
Notice
1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.
2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.
3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.
4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.
Copyright
This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.
For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com
AI Assistance Disclaimer
This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.
We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com
