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.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

Editorial says West Virginia’s HB 5437 “Vape Safety Act” goes too far, targeting residency and citizenship provisions
Editorial says West Virginia’s HB 5437 “Vape Safety Act” goes too far, targeting residency and citizenship provisions
A News and Sentinel editorial argues that West Virginia’s HB 5437, the “Vape Safety Act,” goes beyond reasonable regulation by adding provisions barring any part of a vape or smoke shop from being used as a residence and requiring owners to be U.S. citizens.
Feb.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FRE Nicotine Pouches Partners with Taylor Reimer Racing, Covering Four 2026 ARCA Events
FRE Nicotine Pouches Partners with Taylor Reimer Racing, Covering Four 2026 ARCA Events
FRE® Nicotine Pouches announced a partnership with Taylor Reimer Racing, becoming the Official Nicotine Sponsor for four races in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series and serving as the primary sponsor at events in Alabama, Michigan, Minnesota, and Arizona. FRE branding will appear on the race car, driver suit, and helmet, and the collaboration will also extend to off-track content and activations.
Feb.27
Product | 25-second preheat and 2,250mAh battery: Heaven Gifts’ REJO launches new HNB device on Japanese and UK e-commerce platforms
Product | 25-second preheat and 2,250mAh battery: Heaven Gifts’ REJO launches new HNB device on Japanese and UK e-commerce platforms
REJO, Heaven Gifts’ heated tobacco (HNB) brand, has listed the REJO CUBE on its official website. The device features a magnetic modular design with a detachable battery and an OmniHeat™ 360° heating system, and is now available via e-commerce channels in Japan and the UK, priced at 6,980 yen (about $45) in Japan.
Mar.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Guernsey Rejects Petition to Overturn Under-18 Vape Shop Ban
Guernsey Rejects Petition to Overturn Under-18 Vape Shop Ban
A petition seeking to overturn a new ban on under-18s entering vape shops in Guernsey has been rejected. The Health and Social Care Committee said the measure meets its objective of protecting children from exposure to vaping products.
Mar.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Report: 43% of 546 Canadian specialty vape shops found non-compliant in federal inspections
Report: 43% of 546 Canadian specialty vape shops found non-compliant in federal inspections
Health Canada’s vaping compliance and enforcement report covering inspections from April 2024 to March 2025 found 43% of 546 specialty vaping businesses were not compliant with the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, according to the report cited. Health inspectors seized vaping products at 235 specialty vaping establishments.
Feb.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | 30ml E-Liquid, 40,000 Puffs, and Three Power Settings: OXBAR Launches New DTL Product ROVOTA
Product | 30ml E-Liquid, 40,000 Puffs, and Three Power Settings: OXBAR Launches New DTL Product ROVOTA
E-cigarette brand OXBAR has launched its new DTL e-cigarette, the OXBAR ROVOTA, on its official website. The product contains 30ml of e-liquid and is officially rated for up to approximately 40,000 puffs. It has a nicotine strength of 6mg and offers around 15 flavor options. The device is equipped with a 1400mAh battery, supports Type-C charging, features a 0.4Ω dual mesh coil, and supports three power settings of 20W, 30W, and 40W.
Mar.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai