South Korea’s finance ministry to directly crack down on illegal high-nicotine vape liquids

Key Takeaways

• Finance ministry to directly and proactively enforce against illegal nicotine-strength manipulation and distribution in liquid vapes
• Legal basis: revised Tobacco Business Act expands “tobacco” to include synthetic-nicotine liquid vapes; enforcement expected after April 24
• Last year’s detections totaled 12 cases: five online and seven in-person
• Revised law requires graphic warnings and harm statements on packaging and applies the same prohibitions as for conventional tobacco
• If caught for illegal manufacturing, penalties cited include up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine up to 30 million won (USD equivalent not provided in the source; exchange-rate basis not stated)

2Firsts, February 28, 2026 – 

According to Daum, South Korea’s finance ministry said it will directly crack down on illegal sales sites after reports highlighted the circulation of extremely high-concentration nicotine liquids—described as exceeding a lethal dose—through liquid e-cigarette retail shops.

The report said the government will move to enforce against illegal upward manipulation of nicotine concentrations in liquid e-cigarettes. It added that the finance ministry will rely on a revised Tobacco Business Act that expands the definition of tobacco to include synthetic-nicotine liquid e-cigarettes, and that full-scale enforcement is expected to begin after the revised law takes effect on April 24.

The report noted the move draws attention because questions had been raised about the effectiveness of inspections previously carried out by the climate/energy/environment ministry. Under the current framework, that ministry conducts online monitoring and in-person inspections under the Chemical Substances Control Act. However, the report said illicit retail shops have been spreading rapidly—from central Seoul to residential areas—while inspection capacity has not kept pace. It said detections last year totaled 12 cases: five online and seven in-person.

The report said that as nicotine used to manufacture liquid e-cigarettes becomes regulated under the revised Tobacco Business Act under the finance ministry’s remit, the ministry now has a clearer basis to directly pursue crackdowns on illegal manufacturing and distribution.

It said the revised law’s core includes requiring synthetic-nicotine liquid e-cigarette products to display graphic warning images and harm statements on packaging, applying the same prohibitions used for conventional tobacco products.

A finance ministry official was quoted saying that while enforcement had been under local government jurisdiction, the ministry will now directly and proactively lead crackdowns on illegal nicotine-strength manipulation and distribution. The official also said that under the revised act, liquid e-cigarettes will require a tobacco manufacturing license to produce, and that capital requirements akin to those for cigarettes would apply. The report cited an enforcement decree provision stating a capital requirement of 30 billion won (USD equivalent not provided in the source; exchange-rate basis not stated).

The report added that the ministry believes stronger on-site enforcement is needed and said it will cooperate with local governments to strengthen crackdowns and eliminate illegality through effective enforcement. The official said that if illegal manufacturing is caught on site, penalties under the Tobacco Business Act include up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (USD equivalent not provided in the source; exchange-rate basis not stated). The official also said initial guidance activities would be conducted alongside enforcement, as liquid e-cigarettes are entering the regulatory system for the first time.

Image source: Daum