South Korea to ban minors from unmanned e-cigarette shops

South Korea's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has announced an administrative notice to prohibit minors from entering or being employed at unmanned electronic cigarette shops. The proposal, which is open for public comment until October 6, aims to prevent youth access to vaping devices and liquids sold via automated vending machines.

The move follows recent amendments to the Tobacco Business Act, which officially classified electronic cigarettes as tobacco products. Previously, unmanned stores faced criticism for their inability to effectively prevent underage purchases due to the lack of on-site staff and vulnerabilities to forged identification.

Under the proposed regulation, these establishments must be designated as restricted areas for minors and must clearly display notices regarding entry and employment prohibitions. Owners must also implement measures to verify the age of entrants. Violations, such as employing minors, could result in up to three years in prison or fines of up to 30 million won. Failure to display required notices or prevent entry may lead to up to two years in prison or fines of up to 20 million won. The ministry intends to finalize the regulation by the end of the year.