South Korea blocks 949 illegal online sales of GLP-1 obesity drugs

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has identified 949 instances of illegal online sales, mediation, and advertising of GLP-1 class obesity treatments between January 1 and September 30. The ministry has requested that the Korea Communications Standards Commission and other bodies block access to these illegal posts.

The violations primarily involved online sales sites and bulletin boards (716 cases), followed by introductions to sales sites via cafes and blogs (129 cases), 1-on-1 chat guidance on social media (72 cases), and peer-to-peer second-hand transactions (32 cases).

Authorities warned that these obesity medications are prescription-only drugs that must be administered under a doctor's supervision and a pharmacist's guidance. There are significant risks associated with purchasing these drugs through overseas direct purchases or second-hand markets, including the potential for counterfeit or substandard products and a lack of verified safety and efficacy. Furthermore, because GLP-1 medications require strict cold-chain management, there is a high risk of product degradation if temperature controls are not maintained during international transit.