South Korea Imposes Age Verification for E-Cigarette Sales, Fines Up to $14,000

Nov.27.2024
South Korea Imposes Age Verification for E-Cigarette Sales, Fines Up to $14,000
South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Bans E-Cigarette Sales, Imposes Up to 2 Years in Prison or $14,000 Fine for Violations; Strengthens Online and Offline Sales Monitoring in Collaboration with the Korean E-Cigarette Association to Prevent Sales to Minors

The South Korean Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reiterated that selling e-cigarettes to adolescents could result in penalties, according to a report by N.News on November 26th.

 

The department emphasized that age and identity verification must be conducted when selling e-cigarettes. If sold to minors, violators can be punished in accordance with Article 59 of the Youth Protection Act, with penalties including up to two years in prison or a fine of not more than 20 million Korean won (14,000 dollars).

 

The department is continuing to strengthen its supervision of both online and offline venues, providing guidance and inspections to e-cigarette vendors. It is also requesting the Korean e-cigarette association to increase cooperation efforts in order to collectively promote the implementation of the ban on sales to youth.

 

Regular age and identity verification checks will be conducted on online sales platforms. If violations are found, corrective measures will be taken, such as issuing rectification orders, to ensure that minors cannot easily access e-cigarette products.

 

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is one of South Korea's central administrative agencies and is the government department responsible for policies related to women, youth, and families.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Philip Morris International Restructures to Drive Its Smoke-Free Transformation
Philip Morris International Restructures to Drive Its Smoke-Free Transformation
Philip Morris International (PMI) announced a new organizational model effective January 1, 2026, creating two main business units — PMI International and PMI U.S. — to accelerate its smoke-free strategy. The restructuring replaces four regional segments with three: International Smoke-Free, International Combustibles, and U.S., enhancing agility, governance, and long-term growth in reduced-risk products.
Nov.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report | After the Shortage: How the U.S. Vape Market Is Rebuilding Itself
Special Report | After the Shortage: How the U.S. Vape Market Is Rebuilding Itself
After a wave of regulatory crackdowns, the U.S. vaping market is undergoing a deep reshuffle — shortages sparked frenzy, and resupply triggered elimination. Through interviews with industry insiders from both China and the United States, 2Firsts reveals how the American market is rebuilding itself amid turbulence.
Nov.12
Lao Shuts Down Nearly 300 Online Vape Stores in Joint Crackdown with WHO and Meta
Lao Shuts Down Nearly 300 Online Vape Stores in Joint Crackdown with WHO and Meta
In a coordinated effort with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Meta, the Lao Ministry of Health has taken 288 online e-cigarette stores with more than 759,599 members offline, reinforcing the country’s total ban on e-cigarettes under the National Tobacco Control Law.
Nov.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
CNIPA Targets E-Cigarettes as Key Focus in Crackdown on Trademark Violations
CNIPA Targets E-Cigarettes as Key Focus in Crackdown on Trademark Violations
National Intellectual Property Office issued a notice to strengthen management of illegal use of trademarks, promoting fair competition.
Nov.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
U.S FDA Announces Dec. 8 Deadline for IQOS MRTP Renewal Comments
U.S FDA Announces Dec. 8 Deadline for IQOS MRTP Renewal Comments
The U.S. FDA has set December 8, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET as the closing date for public comments on the MRTP renewal applications submitted by Philip Morris Products S.A. for several IQOS heated tobacco products.
Nov.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
South Korea to ban vape vending machines near schools from February 15, 2026
South Korea to ban vape vending machines near schools from February 15, 2026
Starting from February 15, 2026, South Korea bans e-cigarette vending machines within 200m of schools to protect youth from nicotine products.
Oct.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai