South Korea to ban vape vending machines near schools from February 15, 2026

Key Points

1. Starting from February 15, 2026, South Korea will ban the installation of e-cigarette vending machines within 200 meters of schools. 
2. The ban will also extend to all nicotine products, including heated tobacco and e-cigarettes. 
3. Existing vending machines must be removed by 2029. 
4. The age at which teenagers first try e-cigarettes has decreased to 13.7 years old, leading to an increase in usage rates.

In a report by the Ulsan Daily News on October 14, 2025, the South Korean Ministry of Education announced that starting on February 15, 2026, the setting up of e-cigarette vending machines within a 200-meter radius of schools and kindergartens nationwide will be prohibited. This measure is aimed at preventing easy access to nicotine products by young people.

The Education Support Bureau of North Ulsan recently conducted inspections at 40 out of 180 schools and confirmed that there are currently no e-cigarette vending machines near school campuses. The education department stated that they will continue to conduct comprehensive investigations and implement a reporting system to reduce opportunities for teenagers to access e-cigarettes.

According to the revised "Education Environmental Protection Law," the ban on e-cigarette vending machines has been expanded from traditional cigarettes to include all nicotine-containing products, including heated tobacco and e-cigarettes. The restricted areas have also been expanded from primary, middle, and high schools to include areas around kindergartens.

According to current regulations, vending machines are strictly prohibited within 50 meters of schools, and their placement within 200 meters must be approved by the Education Environment Protection Committee. E-cigarette vending machines that are already installed must undergo review by February 14, 2027, or they will be shut down and removed by 2029.

According to data from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the average age of adolescents trying e-cigarettes for the first time has decreased from 14.4 years in 2021 to 13.7 years in 2024. The usage rate of e-cigarettes has also increased from 1.9% in 2020 to 3.0% in 2024.

Image source: Ulsan Daily News