Smoking in South Korea
In South Korea, smoking is legal and tobacco is subject to a range of regulatory measures. Cigarette sales are permitted to be purchased through vending machines, however, buying them online is not allowed. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with appropriate documentations. Additionally, health warnings on their packaging are mandatory, the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products including cigarettes is 19 years, and smoking is restricted in public places under national smoke-free legislation. Tobacco advertising is regulated, but a complete ban on all forms of advertising is not in place. Cigarettes are taxed with a total taxation rate of 73.85%, including an excise tax component of 64.76%. As of 2024, South Korea had approximately 8.1 million current smokers, representing an adult current smoking prevalence of 17.6%. Among adult males, the prevalence was substantially higher with 30.2%, compared to 5.1% among adult females. This prevalence was reported to be 18.9% overall in 2022. In 2021, an estimated 44,308 deaths were attributed to tobacco smoking in South Korea, including 35,471 male and 8,837 female deaths. This makes approximately 13.38% of all deaths in the country—19.9% among males and 5.78% among females.
Read articles from South Korea
November 28, 2018 by ft.com
South Korea legalises medical marijuana
South Korea has become the first east Asian country to legalise medical cannabis in a surprising move to expand the treatment options for patients with epilepsy and other rare diseases in the conservative country.
The country’s national assembly approved amending the Act on the Management of Narcotic Drugs on Friday to allow non-hallucinogenic doses of medical marijuana. Still, using weed even for medical purpose will be strictly controlled with patients required to apply to the Korea Orphan Drug Centre, [...]
October 01, 2018 by ft.com
Philip Morris sues Seoul over ecigarette information disclosure
Philip Morris International has filed a lawsuit against the South Korean government, demanding the disclosure of detailed information on Seoul’s recent test results of harmful substances found in electronic cigarettes.
The lawsuit against the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety follows its announcement in June that five cancer-causing substances were found in heated tobacco products, with the level of tar detected in some of them far exceeding that of conventional cigarettes.
September 02, 2018 by koreatimesus.com
Philip Morris claims its smoking device can reduce incidence of lung carcinomas
Philip Morris International Inc. claimed Thursday that its heat-not-burn device, IQOS, can reduce the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas in a cancer animal model. The tobacco giant said the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas was significantly increased upon exposure to cigarette smoke than normal conditions. However, the incidence and multiplicity of lung carcinomas in mice exposed to IQOS was significantly lower than mice exposed to cigarettes and similar to mice in normal coniditions, [...]
April 30, 2018 by koreabizwire.com
South Korean Government to Regulate Flavored Cigarettes
The South Korean government has started a crackdown on flavored cigarettes that may encourage long-term smoking habits.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed plans on Saturday to implement strong measures that would regulate the flavoring used widely in cigarette products.
In other countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Brazil, the production and sale of flavored cigarettes are regulated.
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