The price of an electronic cigarette, a battery-powered nicotine inhaler used to reduce nicotine dependency, will go up next year as it will be subject to taxation.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said that the "e-cigarette," which contains nicotine, should be regarded as a mild form of a cigarette, which is subject to local, health and garbage taxes.

Since it contains inhalable doses of nicotine, it should also warn of its negative effects on the cover.

The government had been discussing whether the device was a simple cigarette-cessation-aid or a cigarette for the past couple of years.

"We have concluded that the e-cigarettes are also addictive and harm the body," a health official said.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr