In response to stronger tobacco control regulation spreading around the world, the tobacco industry releases and promotes new, diverse products in order to maintain market share. The release of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in May 2017 and closed system types of electronic cigarette (e-cig) vapour products (eg, JUUL) in May 2019 have transformed South Korea’s tobacco market, given that these products have already captured around 11.4% of the market share as of September 2019.
In South Korea, the definition of a tobacco product refers to what is manufactured in a state suitable for smoking, sucking, inhaling (aerosol), chewing or smelling, by using tobacco leaves as all or any part of the raw materials, according to Article 2 of the Tobacco Business Act.