South Korea moves to bar minors from unmanned vape vending shops

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it will issue pre-legislative notice, lasting until Oct. 6, to close a loophole that lets minors access unmanned e-cigarette vending stores. Under the upcoming rule, such outlets must post prohibitions against minors entering or being employed and must implement age-verification checks. Yoon Se-jin, director of youth policy, highlighted the difficulty of preventing under-19 purchases when no staff are present.

The action builds on a recent amendment to the Tobacco Business Act that redefined e-cigarettes as tobacco, banning their use in schools, hospitals and public spaces, and prohibiting online sales. The government is also evaluating nicotine-free and imitation products, especially those containing 6-methylnicotine, whose health effects remain uncertain. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will complete a hazard assessment this year, while the Ministries of Finance and Economy and Health and Welfare will monitor these substances. An audit by the National Assembly Research Service suggested creating a central coordinating body and fast-tracking rules on advertising, vending machines and product disclosure, citing models in Canada, the UK and the EU.