South Korea

Minimum age: 19+

Legal basis: Tobacco Business Act

Tobacco-based snus falls under the Tobacco Business Act and is legal for adults (19+). Not widely sold but not prohibited. Personal use and import for own use permitted.

Minimum age: 19+

Legal basis: Tobacco Business Act (amendment redefining tobacco to include synthetic nicotine, effective 24 Apr 2026)

Nicotine pouches are legally available. Historically synthetic-nicotine pouches fell in a regulatory gap; a Tobacco Business Act revision effective 24 April 2026 redefines tobacco from 'tobacco leaf' to 'nicotine', bringing synthetic-nicotine pouches under tobacco regulation (including an online-sales ban and packaging warnings). They remain legal but more tightly regulated.

Minimum age: 19+

Legal basis: Tobacco Business Act; National Health Promotion Act

Combustible cigarettes are legal and widely sold. Minimum age 19. Health warnings and advertising restrictions apply.

Minimum age: 19+

Legal basis: Tobacco Business Act (tobacco-derived nicotine); revision effective 24 Apr 2026 covering synthetic nicotine

E-cigarettes are legal. Tobacco-derived nicotine e-liquids require a tobacco retail licence; online sales of tobacco-nicotine e-liquid are generally prohibited; nicotine strength capped at 2%. From 24 April 2026 synthetic-nicotine e-cigarettes are reclassified as tobacco with stricter rules and online-sales ban.

Minimum age: 19+

Legal basis: Tobacco Business Act; National Health Promotion Act

Heated tobacco products (IQOS, glo, lil) are legal and very popular in South Korea, regulated and taxed as tobacco products (HTP tax raised toward ~89% of cigarette levels). Minimum age 19.