South Korean government advises people to stop vape
South Korea on Wednesday advised people to stop using vape because of increasing health disruptions. South Korea also vowed to speed up its investigation into whether vape sales are banned, a move that could hit major producers such as Juul and South Korean tobacco company KT & G.
Although vape's long-term health effects are unclear, vape is considered a healthier option that can help users quit smoking when using vape.
But as vape faces increasing scrutiny, countries around the world have been removing vape products from the market and restricting their advertising.
"The current situation is considered to be a serious threat to public health," South Korean Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a press conference, referring to cases of lung injuries caused by the use of vape in the United States.
To date, U.S. health officials have reported 33 deaths from a respiratory disease related to vape, with 1,479 confirmed and suspected cases. The South Korean Ministry of Health said it had reported a case of pneumonia in a 30-year-old Korean vape user this month.
"Children, adolescents, pregnant women and people with lung diseases should never use vape. The same is true for non-smokers. Never use vape from now on." Park Yong-Ho said the Korean government will speed up research To determine whether there is a scientific basis for banning the sale of liquid vapes.
An vape technology—heating but not burning tobacco—has been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has largely avoided recent regulatory crackdowns worldwide. The South Korean Ministry of Health has vowed to strengthen the supervision of vape products, such as strengthening customs procedures for importing e-liquid.
U.S. vape maker Juul's South Korean office said in a statement that their products do not contain harmful substances. Juul, which is 35% owned by Altria Group, began selling its vape products in South Korea in May this year. KT & G, a Korean tobacco maker that sells vape, said it will actively cooperate with the government after the results of the formal investigation.
Since 2015, smoking bans indoors in restaurants and cafes have reduced tolerance for smokers in South Korea. But since 2017, vape has become increasingly popular in this $ 16 billion tobacco market.
Government data show that as of June, vape accounted for 13% of sales in the Korean tobacco market. According to Euromonitor data, South Korea is the world's second largest vape heating product market after Japan, valued at $ 1.7 billion, but vape is not as popular yet.
The United States has announced plans to remove scented vape and e-liquid products from stores, citing an alarming increase in the number of teens using these products.
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