South Korea’s Revised Tobacco Business Act to Take Effect, With Penalties for Unauthorized Sales

Mar.25

With the revised Tobacco Business Act set to take effect on April 24, synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be included within the legal definition of tobacco in South Korea. According to information released by Ongjin County, businesses wishing to sell these products must obtain tobacco retailer designation from the relevant authority.

Key Takeaways

The revised Tobacco Business Act will take effect on April 24, and synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be included in the legal tobacco category.
Businesses selling synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes must obtain tobacco retailer designation from the competent authority.
Businesses that continue sales without designation may face up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 5 million (approximately USD 3,450, based on 1 KRW = 0.00069 USD).
Existing businesses that sold such products before December 23, 2024 may apply for a grace period on the 50-meter distance rule until April 23, 2028.
Businesses covered by the special measure may sell only synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes; if they also sell ordinary tobacco products, their retailer designation will be revoked.

2Firsts, March 25, 2026

According to Media Incheon, with the revised Tobacco Business Act set to take effect on April 24, synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be included within the legal definition of tobacco, and businesses wishing to sell such products must apply for tobacco retailer designation from the relevant authority.

Synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will be brought under legal tobacco regulation from April 24

The original report said synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will then be treated as legal tobacco under the law. Retail outlets wishing to continue selling the products must first obtain tobacco retailer designation from the competent authority.

If a business continues selling without designation, it may be subject to penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 5 million (approximately USD 3,450, based on 1 KRW = 0.00069 USD).

Existing sellers before December 23, 2024 may receive a grace period on the 50-meter distance rule

The report said existing businesses that had sold the products before December 23, 2024 may, by submitting supporting documents, receive a temporary grace period from the 50-meter distance restriction between retail outlets until April 23, 2028.

However, businesses covered by this special measure may sell only synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes. If they also sell ordinary tobacco products, their tobacco retailer designation will be cancelled.

Applications may be filed with local township offices or the county government by visit or by mail

The report also said that after the grace period ends, the businesses must satisfy the distance requirement and newly obtain tobacco retailer designation.

Applications may be submitted in person to the relevant township office or the Economic Policy Division of Ongjin County, depending on the business location, and may also be filed by mail.

An Ongjin County official said all retailers are expected to comply with the revised law in order to protect residents’ safety and maintain sound business order.

Image Source: Media Incheon

References:

[1] 인천 옹진군, 합성니코틴 등 전자담배 소매인 지정 신청.접수

Also Read:

[1] Goyang City Urges Relevant Sellers to Apply for Tobacco Retailer Designation by April 23

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

[3] South Korea to regulate synthetic-nicotine e-liquids as tobacco from April 24

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com