Can I bring nicotine pouches (white snus, no tobacco) from Scandinavia into Korea?

Good question. Here's what you need to know about bringing nicotine pouches into Korea:

Legal status

• Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free, like ZYN or VELO) fall into a gray area in Korean regulations. They are not classified the same as traditional tobacco products.
• Korea Customs classifies nicotine products under health-related items. Since these contain nicotine but no tobacco leaf, they may be treated as a nicotine-containing product rather than a tobacco product.

What you can bring

• For personal use, you can generally bring a reasonable amount (a few tins) without issues at customs.
• The standard tobacco duty-free allowance is 200 cigarettes or 250g of other tobacco products, but since nicotine pouches are not technically tobacco, this may not apply directly.
• Keep them in your carry-on or checked luggage in original packaging.

Practical advice

• Bring a reasonable personal supply. Customs officers are unlikely to question a few tins.
• If you bring a large quantity (like a full carton of 20+ tins), you might be questioned and could face duty charges.
• You cannot easily buy these in Korea. They are not widely sold here.
• Some people order from iHerb or overseas sites, but delivery can be hit-or-miss with customs.

If asked at customs, explain they are for personal use and contain no tobacco. Having the ingredient list visible on the packaging helps.