Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2025-12-11
In South Korea, smoking is legal but subject to a range of regulatory measures. Cigarette sales are permitted to be purchased through vending machines, however, buying them online is not allowed. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with appropriate documentations. Additionally, health warnings on their packaging are mandatory, the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products including cigarettes is 19 years, and smoking is restricted in public places under national smoke-free legislation. Tobacco advertising is regulated, but a complete ban on all forms of advertising is not in place. Cigarettes are taxed with a total taxation rate of 73.85%, including an excise tax component of 64.76%.
As of 2024, South Korea had approximately 8.1 million current smokers, representing an adult current smoking prevalence of 17.6%. Among adult males, the prevalence was substantially higher with 30.2%, compared to 5.1% among adult females. This prevalence was reported to be 18.9% overall in 2022. In 2021, an estimated 44,308 deaths were attributed to tobacco smoking in South Korea, including 35,471 male and 8,837 female deaths. This makes approximately 13.38% of all deaths in the country—19.9% among males and 5.78% among females.
Prevalence
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 9.8 million | 1A |
| 2024 | 8.1 million | 1B |
References:
- (1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 35.1% | 1A A |
| 2019 | 22% | 1B |
| 2020 | 20.1% | 1C |
| 2022 | 18.9% | 1D B |
| 2022 | 17.7% | 1A A |
| 2024 | 17.6% | 1E |
References:
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (2023), Korea Health Statistics 2022: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IX-1), Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Osong, https://knhanes.kdca.go.kr/knhanes/sub04/sub04_04_01.do. Cited in Park, J. E., Jeong, W. M., Choi, Y. J., Kim, S. Y., Yeob, K. E., & Park, J. H. (2024). Tobacco Use in Korea: Current Epidemiology and Public Health Issues. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 39(45), e328. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e328
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
- Percentage of adults aged 19 and older who reported the current use
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 6.5% | 1A A |
| 2019 | 5.9% | 1B |
| 2020 | 5.5% | 1C |
| 2022 | 5.4% | 1D B |
| 2022 | 5% | 1A A |
| 2024 | 5.1% | 1E |
References:
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (2023), Korea Health Statistics 2022: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IX-1), Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Osong, https://knhanes.kdca.go.kr/knhanes/sub04/sub04_04_01.do. Cited in Park, J. E., Jeong, W. M., Choi, Y. J., Kim, S. Y., Yeob, K. E., & Park, J. H. (2024). Tobacco Use in Korea: Current Epidemiology and Public Health Issues. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 39(45), e328. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e328
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
- Percentage of adults aged 19 and older who reported the current use
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 66.3% | 1A A |
| 2019 | 38.2% | 1B |
| 2020 | 34.7% | 1C |
| 2022 | 32.7% | 1D B |
| 2022 | 30% | 1A A |
| 2024 | 30.2% | 1E |
References:
- Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (2023), Korea Health Statistics 2022: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IX-1), Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Osong, https://knhanes.kdca.go.kr/knhanes/sub04/sub04_04_01.do. Cited in Park, J. E., Jeong, W. M., Choi, Y. J., Kim, S. Y., Yeob, K. E., & Park, J. H. (2024). Tobacco Use in Korea: Current Epidemiology and Public Health Issues. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 39(45), e328. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e328
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
- Percentage of adults aged 19 and older who reported the current use
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
9.6 million
2
A
22.1%
3
A
5.3%
3
A
39.3%
3
A
References:
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- 1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/ 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
Comments:
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015 World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
Smoking-related mortality
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 46,762 | 1A |
| 2021 | 44,308 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 11,484 | 1A |
| 2021 | 8,837 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 35,278 | 1A |
| 2021 | 35,471 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 16.35% | 1A |
| 2021 | 13.38% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7.3% | 1A |
| 2021 | 5.78% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 19.3% | 1A |
| 2021 | 19.9% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
References:
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Product promotion
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-kor.pdf?sfvrsn=7a688835_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Regulation
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-kor.pdf?sfvrsn=7a688835_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Availability
Yes
1
A
2023
No
1
2023
Yes
1
A
2023
Yes
1
2023
Yes
2
A
2025
Yes
1
A
2023
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-kor.pdf?sfvrsn=7a688835_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
- World Integrated Trade Solution. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 27 November 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
- An import license is required.
Regulations and restrictions
YES
1
2023
Yes: 19 years
1
2023
YES
1
A
2023
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-kor.pdf?sfvrsn=7a688835_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
- Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities except universties.
Tax
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-kor.pdf?sfvrsn=7a688835_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
- 0.65
- Total taxation rate: 73.85%
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