The Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea will implement some amendments to the “Tobacco Industry Act” on April 24th. With the first adjustment to the definition of tobacco in 37 years after its enactment in 1988. The regulatory scope will expand from products made from “tobacco leaves” to all products made with natural or synthetic nicotine. Previously, synthetic nicotine liquid electronic cigarettes. Which were regarded as industrial products and could be freely sold online and advertised, will also be subject to the same regulation as regular tobacco starting from April 24th.
Key Points Summary of the Amendments
- The Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea will implement some amendments to the “Tobacco Industry Act” on April 24th.
- The definition of tobacco will be expanded from “products made from tobacco leaves” to “all products made with natural or synthetic nicotine”.
- Synthetic nicotine vapes will be prohibited from online sales starting from April 24th.
- Products with flavoring ingredients such as strawberries and lemons are also not allowed to use related text, pictures, or photos in packaging and advertisements.
- Sales through vending machines will be required to have the qualifications of a retailer and an adult authentication device, and the installation locations will also be restricted.
First Revision of Tobacco Definition in 37 Years
On April 23, 2026, according to Topictree. The Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea will implement some amendments to the “Tobacco Industry Act” on April 24. According to the revised content, since the legislation was enacted in 1988, the definition of tobacco in South Korea has changed for the first time after 37 years. The regulatory scope will expand from products originally made from “tobacco leaves” to all products manufactured using natural and synthetic nicotine as raw materials. The definition of tobacco has been expanded to include both natural and synthetic nicotine products.
Synthetic Nicotine Vapes to Be Regulated Like Regular Tobacco
As the definition of tobacco expands, synthetic nicotine vapes. Which were previously treated as industrial products and could be freely sold online and advertised, will be subject to the same regulations as regular tobacco starting from April 24th. According to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The rate of adult vape usage in South Korea in 2024 was 3.8%, reaching the highest level since the start of this survey.
Complete Ban on Online Sales and Flavor Labels
Starting from April 24th, the online sales of synthetic nicotine vapes will be completely prohibited. For products containing ingredients such as strawberries and limes, neither the packaging nor the advertisements are allowed to use any text, pictures, or photos related to the fragrance. Those who violate the regulations may be fined up to 5 million Korean won. The packaging of cigarette boxes and advertisements will also be required to display warning pictures and warnings. Those who violate this rule may face criminal penalties including up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 million Korean won.
Vending Machine Sales: Adult Verification and Location Restrictions
When selling related products through vending machines. The operators will also be required to obtain the status of a retailer and install an adult authentication device. The installation locations of the vending machines will be restricted to areas where people under the age of 19 are prohibited from entering, the interiors of retail stores, and smoking rooms. If the relevant standards are violated, a fine of up to 5 million Korean won can be imposed; if an adult authentication device is not installed, a fine of up to 3 million Korean won can be imposed. To protect existing vape retail stores, the restriction that business premises must maintain a distance of more than 50 meters from each other will be temporarily suspended for two years.
Smoking Areas: Penalties Extended to Vapes
This revision also includes synthetic nicotine vapes in the smoking ban area regulations. Previously, because it was not included in the definition of tobacco, even if it was seized in a no-smoking area, the penalty had been revoked in some cases. Starting from April 24th, smoking in no-smoking areas, whether it is cigarette smoking, heated non-combustible products, or vape use, will be subject to a fine of up to 100,000 Korean won (68.41 US dollars).
Teenage Vape Usage Rate: 2.9% in 2025
According to the Youth Health Behavior Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, by 2025, the rate of vape use among Korean teenagers will be 2.9%, with 3.8% among boys and 2.0% among girls.
Reform Focus: Filling Regulatory Gaps
The report states that the key focus of this revision of the “Tobacco Industry Law” is to fill the regulatory gaps. The amendment was passed by 247 votes in favor at the plenary session of the Korean National Assembly on December 2, 2025, and was announced on the same day. It was officially implemented after a 4-month buffer period. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers are required to fulfill their obligations, such as installing warning signs, removing flavoring labels, and equipping automatic vending machines with adult authentication devices, before the law comes into effect.
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