Juul Labs, the manufacturer of a new type of e-cigarettes holds a press conference in Seoul on May 22, 2019, to showcase it new product and outline its future plans. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — U.S. e-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc. has decided to restructure its Korean unit following its headquarters.
Juul Labs Korea said Thursday, “We are looking at how best we can reorganize our operations locally in each country we are currently working in, and we are making individual adjustments to each region.”
It added that in South Korea, it is in the process of reviewing business operations and strategies, adding that “the company is currently working closely with executives and employees.”
When Juul entered the Korean market last year, it made headlines for the sophisticated design of its products. However, controversy over the harmfulness of liquid e-cigarettes has erupted in the U.S.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced last month that it had found vitamin E acetate, which is thought to cause lung damage, in South Korea, which led to the suspension of sales at convenience stores.
Juul Labs Korea has also admitted to a slump in sales.
“Our sales performance fell short of expectations of the demand from Korea’s adult smoking population in terms of the current portfolio,” Juul Labs Korea said, adding that the company needs to adjust and rebuild its business in Korea.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
