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

Dutch Data Show 244 Companies Continued Illegal Vape Sales After Two Fines
Dutch Data Show 244 Companies Continued Illegal Vape Sales After Two Fines
According to RTL Nieuws, citing figures from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), hundreds of Dutch shops continue to sell illegal vapes, often even after repeated fines.
Apr.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Spain’s Nicotine Pouch Sales Reached 5 Million Cans in 2025, Industry Says 2026 Could Hit 8 Million
Spain’s Nicotine Pouch Sales Reached 5 Million Cans in 2025, Industry Says 2026 Could Hit 8 Million
Spain’s Nicotine Pouch Association said nicotine pouch sales in Spain reached 5 million cans of 20 units in 2025 and are expected to rise 60% to 8 million in 2026. The group said there are currently 20 to 30 brands on the Spanish market and called for regulation proportionate to product risk. It also opposed a proposal to reduce nicotine content to 0.99 mg per pouch, saying it would amount to a de facto ban on the category.
Mar.19 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Haypp Voluntarily Sets a 20 mg Nicotine-Strength Cap for Nicotine Pouches and Urges the UK to Establish a Regulatory Limit
Haypp Voluntarily Sets a 20 mg Nicotine-Strength Cap for Nicotine Pouches and Urges the UK to Establish a Regulatory Limit
Online nicotine pouch retailer Haypp said it has voluntarily adopted a 20 mg per pouch nicotine-strength cap across its e-commerce platforms and is urging the UK government to formalize that cap as the limit as it develops a regulatory framework. Haypp said proportionate limits would protect consumers while preserving nicotine pouches as a viable reduced-risk alternative to cigarettes.
Feb.26 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Shanghai releases 2025 smoke-free white paper: smoking incidence at designated smoke-free venues falls to 12.6%
Shanghai releases 2025 smoke-free white paper: smoking incidence at designated smoke-free venues falls to 12.6%
Shanghai released its 2025 White Paper on Smoking Control in Public Places at a city tobacco control meeting on March 5. The paper reports a 12.6% smoking incidence in legally designated smoke-free venues, down 0.4 percentage points from 2024, and says 98.2% of residents support a full indoor smoking ban.
Mar.05
New York’s Lawsuit Against Puff Bar and Other Flavored Vape Companies Survives Key Court Challenge
New York’s Lawsuit Against Puff Bar and Other Flavored Vape Companies Survives Key Court Challenge
According to Law360, a federal judge ruled that makers and distributors of flavored vape brands such as Puff Bar cannot escape New York’s lawsuit seeking to hold them responsible for the youth vaping epidemic. The court found that the state had adequately alleged the companies misrepresented how safe vaping is.
Apr.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Reynolds American launches U.S. investment plan: to invest $3.2 billion to expand capacity and advance a shift toward smokeless products
Reynolds American launches U.S. investment plan: to invest $3.2 billion to expand capacity and advance a shift toward smokeless products
Reynolds American says it will invest more than $3.2 billion across its U.S. operations by 2030. The investment began in 2024 and is expected to support more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. The company says the plan covers modernization and expansion of manufacturing facilities, scaling innovation and production, supply-chain initiatives and employee training, and also references its R&D spending and related site footprint.
Mar.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai