South Korea’s National Assembly and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are considering adding smoking warning slogans or graphics to vape devices, and plan to ban the use of images that appeal to teenagers in tobacco advertising.
Proposed Amendment to Strengthen Vape Regulation
South Korea’s National Assembly and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are paying close attention to a bill proposal to add smoking warning slogans or charts on vape devices.
Lawmaker Jeon Jin-sook submitted a bill to amend the National Health Promotion Law to strengthen the regulation of vapes.
Closing Legal Loopholes in Existing Tobacco Laws
Currently, regulatory gaps exist for new tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes.
Under current law, only traditional tobacco packaging requires warning labels. The proposed amendment would mandate warning slogans and charts on vape devices and other related equipment, as specified by presidential decree.
The bill also seeks to include these devices under tobacco advertising restrictions.
Ban on Teen-Targeted Advertising Images
To prevent youth from developing an interest in smoking, the bill would prohibit the use of animals, cartoon characters, or movie characters in tobacco advertisements.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare supports the proposal, citing the need to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and strengthen youth protection measures.
Current Legal Framework and Loopholes
South Korea’s tobacco regulation is governed mainly by two laws — the National Health Promotion Law and the Tobacco Business Law.
The former focuses on public health, while the latter supports the tobacco industry’s operations.
However, the Tobacco Business Law’s definition of cigarettes excludes products that emit less or no tobacco tar. As a result, liquid vapes are not classified as traditional cigarettes, allowing them to be sold freely online and offline without warning labels or excise taxes.
Youth Access and Growing Vape Use
The absence of strict regulation and taxation has made it easier for teenagers to access and experiment with liquid vapes.
A national survey shows that vape use among South Korean teenagers is rising — according to data from the Department of Disease Management in March 2023, vape use among high school students increased from 2.7% in 2018 to 3.1% in 2023.
