Prevalence and Patterns of Smoking in South Korea

Oct.24.2022
Prevalence and Patterns of Smoking in South Korea
Researchers at Seoul National University Hospital found that South Korean men are using more heated tobacco products than e-cigarettes.

A team led by Professor Cheol-Min Lee of the Department of Family Medicine at Seoul National University Hospital conducted a study surveying 6,188 adult males and females aged 19 and over who participated in the 2019 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The overall usage rate (smoking rate) of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and heated cigarettes among adults was 19% (1,181 people). Of each type of cigarette use, traditional cigarettes (34.7% for males, 5.9% for females) had the highest usage rate, followed by heated cigarettes (8.8% for males, 1.5% for females) and electronic cigarettes (4.3% for males, 1.0% for females).


The usage of heated tobacco products in South Korea, which were introduced in 2017, is almost double the usage of e-cigarettes, which were first introduced in 2003. Among heated tobacco product users, only 23.6% use one type, while 58.0% use two types (regular cigarettes or e-cigarettes) and 18.4% use all three types. Since their introduction, e-cigarettes have posed various potential risks to human health. Heated tobacco products, which were first launched in 2014, are rapidly gaining market share. According to Euromonitor International's 2019 data, the largest heated tobacco product markets in the world are Japan ($8.6 billion), South Korea ($1.6 billion), and Italy ($1 billion). Although users claim a lower dependence and poorer health status compared to smokers, many facts about their impact on human health remain unknown.


The findings of this study were published in the latest English journal of the Korean Society of Family Medicine and presented at the Korea Food Exchange Forum (KOFRUM).


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party sources for industry professionals to exchange and learn from.


This article does not express the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the truthfulness or accuracy of the article's content. The translation of this article is only intended for industry-related communication and research purposes.


Due to limitations in the translator's ability, the translated article may not fully reflect the original. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


4. 2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or foreign-related statements and positions.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and author(s). If there is an infringement, please contact us to request deletion.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Sweden Becomes First EU Country to Reach Smoke-Free Status as Daily Smoking Falls to 4.8%
Sweden Becomes First EU Country to Reach Smoke-Free Status as Daily Smoking Falls to 4.8%
According to the latest CAN report and multiple media reports, Sweden’s daily smoking rate fell to 4.8% in 2025, below the commonly used 5% smoke-free threshold, making it the first EU country to reach that benchmark.
News
Jun.05
  South Korea Reopens Cigarette Tax Debate as 63% Back Higher Tobacco Taxes
South Korea Reopens Cigarette Tax Debate as 63% Back Higher Tobacco Taxes
South Korea’s cigarette tax debate has resurfaced after the Ministry of Health and Welfare said tobacco price policy needed review, with a poll showing 63% of respondents support higher tobacco taxes.
Regulations
Jun.22
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Seita’s Julia Neumaier Says France Should Target Vape Access, Not Plain Packaging
Julia Neumaier, general manager of Seita, Imperial Brands’ French subsidiary, said France should focus vaping regulation on access control, age verification, online sales and distribution channels, rather than applying tobacco-style plain packaging to vaping products.
Jul.15
EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections
EU Tobacco Rules Face Pushback as Analysis Says 90% of Consultation Responses Raised Objections
An analysis by We Are Innovation says more than 90% of over 82,000 responses to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Tobacco Products Directive revision raised at least one substantial objection to the proposed regulatory direction.
Jul.13
PMI Expands IQOS and VEEV Presence at Frankfurt Airport Through Travel Retail Pop-Ups
PMI Expands IQOS and VEEV Presence at Frankfurt Airport Through Travel Retail Pop-Ups
According to The Moodie Davitt Report, PMI Global Travel Retail and Frankfurt Airport Retail have launched new IQOS and VEEV retail spaces at Frankfurt Airport. The installations, located inside and outside duty-free areas, showcase IQOS heated tobacco products and VEEV e-vapor products through product education, consumer interaction and brand experiences. Frankfurt Airport Retail, operated by Fraport Group and Gebr. Heinemann, manages key retail activities at Frankfurt Airport. The initiative follows PMI’s broader strategy of expanding smoke-free products through global travel retail channels. PMI has previously introduced VEEV products across multiple European airports while continuing to expand IQOS and VEEV availability in international markets.
Jul.17
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives