Thought to Be Water, but '167 Times the Lethal Dose' Sold Openly

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Highly concentrated undiluted nicotine is a hazardous substance that can be misused for criminal purposes. However, products containing more than 160 times the lethal dose for an adult in a single bottle are being openly distributed online. Because it falls into a legal blind spot, countermeasures are urgently needed.

Reporter Ha Jeongyeon reports exclusively.

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In 2017, a man in his 20s murdered his wife by injecting her with a lethal dose of nicotine during their honeymoon to claim insurance payouts.

In 2016, this man also attempted to poison his ex-girlfriend by having her drink a hangover relief beverage laced with undiluted nicotine.

Following these crimes involving nicotine abuse, the government at the time introduced measures to strengthen oversight of importers.

Recently, however, it was confirmed that highly concentrated undiluted nicotine advertised as having "99.9% purity" is being sold openly on an online shopping mall.

The seller advertises that there is no issue, claiming the product is distributed under the Chemicals Control Act and is not subject to regulation under the Tobacco Business Act.

This is the undiluted nicotine that I ordered and received online.

Ingredients such as glycerin and flavoring can also be ordered together, and e-cigarette users reportedly mix these ingredients to produce e-liquid in a process colloquially called "kimchi making."

A 10-milliliter bottle contains as much as 10,000 milligrams of nicotine.

This is more than 160 times the lethal adult dose of 40 to 60 milligrams.

Because it is colorless and odorless, it is difficult to distinguish from water, and even skin contact is extremely dangerous, requiring extreme caution in handling.

The amended Tobacco Business Act, which took effect in April, legally classifies liquid e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine as tobacco products, banning their online sale, order, and delivery.

The problem is that undiluted nicotine, rather than finished products, has not yet been included in the regulatory scope, leaving it in a legal blind spot.

[Heo Jong-sik / Member of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee (Democratic Party of Korea): Undiluted nicotine is an extremely dangerous substance capable of taking human lives. We must examine its distribution status and...]

An official from the Ministry of Economy and Finance told SBS, "As not much time has passed since the amended law took effect, we are currently establishing relevant standards," adding, "We are also reviewing regulations on undiluted nicotine and related products."

Video by Shin Dong-hwan and Kim Yong-woo | Video editing by Park Seon-soo | Graphics by Cho Soo-in
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.