The South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare has requested the cancellation of the Korea Vape Show 2023 in KINTEX, Goyang City, because the event openly displays e-cigarettes in a public place and violates relevant regulations. It is reported that HQD, ELFBAR, SMOK, GEEKVAPE, SMISS, Aspire, INNOKIN, ELUX and other brands have participated in the exhibition.
According to The Ministry of Health and Welfare, The Fairs and the Korea e-Cigarette Promotion Council will hold the “Korea E-Cigarette Show 2023” in KINTEX, Goyang City from July 21 to 23. There will be smoking at the exhibition site, and South Korean law stipulates that indoor smoking must be carried out in a completely enclosed smoking room, but in this event, e-cigarettes were allegedly displayed on an open stage.
The organizer said that smoking has been banned in public areas such as lobbies, passageways and cafes in the exhibition venue, but it is still displayed on the stand and stage. At the 2022 event, participants even performed smoke puffing on stage. While the local health department inspected the site, the organizer interrupted the display to avoid being punished.
This year’s event also plans to host fan signing sessions for famous Japanese adult film actresses, as well as a gambling event with well-known adult magazine models. The organizers said they would ban minors from the venue and require identification on site.
KINTEX held coordination meetings with Gyeonggi Province, Goyang City, local health centers, and the National Cancer Center, and sent a letter requesting cancellation to the organizers, but the organizers reportedly said it was difficult to cancel the event.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare also sent an official letter to the organizer requesting the cancellation of the event. An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare said:
“We raised concerns about a number of issues for health promotion reasons and sent a withdrawal request letter a few weeks ago. “We are concerned that activities such as e-cigarette displays may lead to indoor smoking, and that teenagers may watch them if there is no access control.”
The ministry of Health and Welfare plans to conduct on-site inspections on the day of the event to find out whether there are illegal activities such as indoor smoking in non-smoking areas. The health and Welfare Ministry also plans to impose penalties such as fines for violations, unless measures such as completely enclosed smoking rooms are set up in the exhibition venues.
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【1】실내서 대놓고 담배연기 뿜뿜… 전자담배쇼에 복지부 “철회해라”