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.

ITGA Americas Meeting Calls for Balanced Regulation as Tobacco Growers Warn of Pressure on Farms and Legal Supply Chains
ITGA Americas Meeting Calls for Balanced Regulation as Tobacco Growers Warn of Pressure on Farms and Legal Supply Chains
ITGA said tobacco grower organizations from five Americas countries called for stronger regional cooperation and balanced regulation, warning that restrictive policies could pressure farmers and legal supply chains. The article also provides data on major tobacco-producing countries in the Americas.
Special Report
Jun.02
French Lawmakers Move to Extend Plain Packaging Rules to Vaping Product
French Lawmakers Move to Extend Plain Packaging Rules to Vaping Product
French lawmakers Nicolas Thierry and Pierre Cazenave said on April 15 that they will file a cross-party bill to extend plain packaging requirements to vaping products. Under the proposal, unit packs and outer packaging for vaping products, including those without nicotine, would become neutral and standardized in the same way cigarette packs have been since 2017.
Apr.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
AIR Expects to Complete CAEP Business Combination in Q2 2026 and List on Nasdaq
AIR Expects to Complete CAEP Business Combination in Q2 2026 and List on Nasdaq
AIR Limited and Cantor Equity Partners III announced that the F-4 registration statement related to their proposed business combination was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2026. Under the arrangement first announced on Nov. 7, 2025, the combined company, AIR Global PLC, is intended to list on Nasdaq in the United States under the ticker “AIIR.”
Apr.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai
French Anti-Tobacco Group Contre-Feu Calls for Plain Packaging Across All Vaping Products
French Anti-Tobacco Group Contre-Feu Calls for Plain Packaging Across All Vaping Products
French anti-tobacco group Contre-Feu said in a statement released on April 14 that e-cigarette manufacturers are encouraging nicotine dependence among young people through targeted marketing and called for concrete measures to protect minors. The group asked for plain packaging for all vaping products, strict regulation of flavor names, and a ban on online sales.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
KT&G Overseas Tobacco Revenue Jumps 24.6%, Attracting Global Capital
KT&G Overseas Tobacco Revenue Jumps 24.6%, Attracting Global Capital
South Korean tobacco company KT&G is drawing growing global investor attention after reporting record overseas tobacco sales, with international institutions including Capital Group and BlackRock increasing their stakes.
Business
May.19
WSJ: White House Pushes for More Flavored Vape Approvals as FDA Commissioner Makary Blocks Move
WSJ: White House Pushes for More Flavored Vape Approvals as FDA Commissioner Makary Blocks Move
According to The Wall Street Journal, the White House is pushing to allow more flavored vape products onto the market for the first time in years, but FDA Commissioner Marty Makary opposes the move and has blocked the plan. The report said a memo from Makary’s office prevented authorization of several flavors from vape maker Glas, even after FDA scientific reviewers had supported them.
Apr.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai