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.

JTI appoints Olesja Flores as General Manager for Global Travel Retail
JTI appoints Olesja Flores as General Manager for Global Travel Retail
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has appointed veteran executive Olesja Flores as General Manager, Global Travel Retail. Flores, who has spent more than 25 years at JTI and most recently served as General Manager for the Swiss market, will be based in Dubai and oversee the company’s global travel retail business.
Jan.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Malaysia’s Kuching court fines vape retailer USD 4921 over “BEST VALUE FOR MONEY” poster promotion
Malaysia’s Kuching court fines vape retailer USD 4921 over “BEST VALUE FOR MONEY” poster promotion
A vape retail company in Kuching, Malaysia, was fined RM20,000 (about USD 4,921.86) by the Magistrates’ Court on January 19, 2026, after pleading guilty to an offence under Section 9(1) of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). The case concerned a poster displayed at the company’s premises on October 6, 2025, carrying the slogan “BEST VALUE FOR MONEY.”
Jan.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Romania Fines Philip Morris and Distributors Over IQOS Price Fixing
Romania Fines Philip Morris and Distributors Over IQOS Price Fixing
Romania’s Competition Council has found that Philip Morris Trading SRL and two distributors engaged in agreements to fix resale prices and promotional discounts for IQOS heated tobacco products.
Dec.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Police dismantle a network of 50+ stores selling unmarked nicotine products in the Moscow region
Police dismantle a network of 50+ stores selling unmarked nicotine products in the Moscow region
TASS reported that police dismantled a distribution network in the Moscow region selling nicotine-containing products, e-cigarettes and vapes without mandatory markings, with organizers earning more than 10 million rubles per month (more than about $130,000). Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk said some items were labeled with counterfeit identification tools of the Chestny Znak system, while others had no codes.
Dec.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Morrisons Partners with Vape Retailer to Open Concessions in 400+ Stores
Morrisons Partners with Vape Retailer to Open Concessions in 400+ Stores
According to The Grocer, Morrisons has reached an agreement with The E-Cig Store to open vaping concessions in more than 400 supermarkets. The first unit will open next month in Rotherham. The deal will expand compliant vaping product offerings and follows Morrisons’ ongoing cooperation with rival retailer VPZ.
Nov.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Australia: NSW police and ABF seize illicit tobacco and vapes worth over A$1.6 million in Sydney’s southwest
Australia: NSW police and ABF seize illicit tobacco and vapes worth over A$1.6 million in Sydney’s southwest
In Australia’s New South Wales, a joint operation in Sydney’s southwest led to the seizure of illicit tobacco and vape products valued at over A$1.6 million (about US$1.09 million) from a warehouse in Riverwood.
Jan.22 by 2FIRSTS.ai