According to V. Daum's report on December 27th, a public hearing on the amendment of the "Tobacco Business Act" was held at the National Assembly in Seoul's Yeouido Island on the same day.
Kim Dohwan, the Executive Vice President of the Korea E-Cigarette Association Federation, pointed out that synthetic nicotine can be sold through online shopping platforms, vending machines, and the internet without the need for a tobacco retail license. He criticized the indiscriminate promotion, which he believes is influencing underage individuals who should not be exposed to tobacco. The president also emphasized that the unregulated distribution of synthetic nicotine is harming authorized tobacco retailers. He stated that over 4,000 legally certified retailers nationwide are facing threats to their survival, and therefore he supports the regulation of synthetic nicotine to normalize the market as soon as possible.
Currently, Congress has submitted 10 revision drafts, proposing to expand the definition of tobacco from the current "tobacco leaf products" to include products containing synthetic nicotine. Experts from various sectors provided feedback on this revision at a public hearing.
The Ministry of Planning and Finance, responsible for tobacco regulation, was previously cautious in its oversight of synthetic nicotine. However, a study by the Ministry of Health and Welfare has revealed that synthetic nicotine contains several harmful substances with carcinogenic and reproductive toxic effects. As a result, the Ministry now supports necessary regulatory measures.
Furthermore, the Korean E-Cigarette E-Liquid Safety Association opposes the revision draft, claiming that synthetic nicotine does not contain carcinogenic ingredients. They warn that such enforcement may lead to increased consumption of more harmful traditional cigarettes and nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, and recommend prioritizing enforcement and investigation of existing products. The association also questions the credibility of the institution conducting research for the Ministry of Health and Welfare and suggests restarting the research. They suggest that the research samples may have intentionally used counterfeit synthetic nicotine falsely labeled as tobacco nicotine, or employed distorted research methods.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare, responsible for the research task, stated that there are no major issues in the research process or results. An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare responded, "This is an organization that has extensive experience in analyzing tobacco components and has carried out many tasks commissioned by government or public organizations. In terms of procedure, this is a professional academic research under the National Contract Law, so a negotiation contract was signed. It was legally contracted and executed.
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
