Vape / E-Cigarette 🇰🇷 South Korea
Legal but regulated; nicotine liquid restricted
Can I bring Vape / E-Cigarette into South Korea?
Legal but regulated; nicotine liquid restricted
Personal use quantities
Excise tax on nicotine liquid
- Customs declaration if e-liquid volume exceeds duty-free allowance
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
South Korea permits personal-use vape devices (1 device + 20ml of e-liquid per traveler aged 19+) under the Tobacco Business Act. Quantities above attract KRW 1,799 per ml of e-liquid plus 30% individual consumption tax. Liquids over 20ml may be confiscated by Korea Customs Service at Incheon / Gimhae / Jeju. Heated-tobacco devices (IQOS, glo) follow standard tobacco quota: 200 sticks duty-free.
Occasional — Enforcement reported intermittently.
Leaving South Korea with vape / e-cigarette
Vape devices, personal e-cigarette hardware, and nicotine-containing e-liquids are generally free to export from South Korea at personal-use quantities. However, many destinations (Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, India in commercial quantities, and others) prohibit or heavily restrict vape import — always verify the destination-side rules before travel. Lithium-battery-powered devices should be carried in cabin baggage per IATA DGR (never in checked baggage).
Duty-free allowance per adult: alcohol up to 2 bottles (total max 2L, value up to USD $400), 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (must be 19+), perfume up to 60ml, and general goods with total value not exceeding USD $800 (KRW equivalent). Alcohol and tobacco count separately from the USD $800 goods allowance.
Vaping is legal in South Korea. Bring personal quantities without issue.
Personal use quantities
- Customs declaration if e-liquid volume exceeds duty-free allowance
Excise tax on nicotine liquid
Tobacco Business Act
This page covers destination customs rules in South Korea. Whether you can carry vape / e-cigarette through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Vape / E-Cigarette rules in other countries
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇹🇭 Thailand
Completely banned. Possession carries criminal penalties.
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇸🇬 Singapore
Banned. Importation and possession are criminal offences.
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇦🇺 Australia
Nicotine vapes require a prescription. Recreational vapes heavily restricted.
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Banned until 2019; now technically permitted for adults but heavily restricted at borders.
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Vapes legal but nicotine liquid unregulated
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇮🇳 India
Complete ban on e-cigarettes