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.

Belarus Proposes Criminal Liability for Selling Vapes to Minors
Belarus Proposes Criminal Liability for Selling Vapes to Minors
Belarus is discussing the introduction of criminal liability for selling vapes and related nicotine-containing products to minors. During a meeting of the expert council, a draft law regulating tobacco and non-tobacco nicotine products received support from most members.
Dec.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Singapore HSA bust links two vape warehouses; Malaysian man jailed 41 weeks
Singapore HSA bust links two vape warehouses; Malaysian man jailed 41 weeks
HSA officers in Singapore staked out a Bishan warehouse after a tip-off and found a Malaysian man in a site containing thousands of vaporisers and components. Checks on his phone led to a second warehouse in Ubi with large quantities of devices and parts.
Jan.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
New York’s budget plan would apply a 75% wholesale tax to nicotine pouches, raising projected revenue
New York’s budget plan would apply a 75% wholesale tax to nicotine pouches, raising projected revenue
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing to tax ZYN nicotine pouches and other nicotine products at the same rate as cigarettes, applying a 75% wholesale tax under her proposed $260 billion state budget.
Jan.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Arizona Moves to Tighten Vape Supply-Chain Enforcement, Targeting Illicit Products
Arizona Moves to Tighten Vape Supply-Chain Enforcement, Targeting Illicit Products
Arizona state Sen. Shawnna Bolick introduced SB 1397 to curb illicit vapes by tracing product origins, intercepting illegal shipments, and cracking down on retailers that violate state law. The proposal would require manufacturers to hold a state license to sell in Arizona, with fines up to $10,000 for unlicensed sales.
Jan.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
U.S. Court Rules Zyn Marketing Dispute Can Proceed, Rejects Philip Morris International’s Bid to Dismiss
U.S. Court Rules Zyn Marketing Dispute Can Proceed, Rejects Philip Morris International’s Bid to Dismiss
A U.S. federal court in Florida denied Philip Morris International and its subsidiaries’ motion to dismiss, allowing consumers to proceed with claims under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act alleging that Zyn nicotine pouches’ “tobacco-free” marketing is misleading. The court held that the allegations do not amount to a fraud claim and may move forward to the merits stage.
Dec.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Germany Sees 18.2% Jump in Taxed Tobacco Substitutes in 2025, Including E-liquids
Germany Sees 18.2% Jump in Taxed Tobacco Substitutes in 2025, Including E-liquids
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said 66.4 billion cigarettes were taxed in 2025, up 0.2% from 2024, while long-term volumes have more than halved since 1991 and per-capita consumption fell to 795 cigarettes. Taxed tobacco substitutes such as e-cigarette liquids reached 1.5 million liters, up 18.2% year on year.
Jan.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai