South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that the new tobacco health warning rules will be implemented from December 23, including updated warning images and warning text expressed in sentences. The new warning will apply on December 22, 2026.
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that the fifth set of cigarette price health warning pictures and statements will be implemented from June 23 after a six-month transition period is passed in June.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the new version of the health warning patterns and statements on tobacco packaging were chosen after full consideration of their visibility and value delivery, aiming to more clearly identify the health hazards of the use of various types of tobacco. Among them, a total of 12 warning images were updated, especially with eye disease and advanced vascular disease in tobacco, enhancing the proportion of lesions that smoking may cause.
In addition, the warning image of e-cigarettes has been increased from the original one to two. In the case of tobacco, warnings on packaging were changed from phrases to sentences.
The new warning images and statements will apply to tobacco products produced from tobacco manufacturing sites or free trade zones from the 23rd. It is estimated that the newly packaged products will appear in convenience stores and other retail stores by the end of January next year.
According to the National Health Promotion Law, the fifth set of health warning images and statements on tobacco packaging will apply for two years, until December 22, 2026.
