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3 clusters · 8 sources · 27 days · First seen · Last updated

South Korea GLP-1 obesity drug surge and illegal imports

Overview

Within ten months of their market launch in August 2023, GLP-1 obesity medicines—including Mounjaro and Wegovy—were prescribed more than 1.5 million times in South Korea. Monthly dispensing rose from under 2,000 prescriptions to over 273,000 by May 2024, a 14.7-fold increase. Over half of all prescriptions (about 53%) went to patients in their 20s and 30s, with the 30-year-old segment the largest, while teenage use also climbed sharply, rising roughly 1.5-fold in the same period.

The rapid uptake has prompted concerns about non-medical and cosmetic use. Physicians report prescriptions often lack thorough assessment, and online chat groups circulate tips on obtaining the drugs and identifying permissive prescribers. Lawmaker Han Ji-a of the People Power Party has urged a shift toward stricter management using DUR data, noting that government measures have been limited to adding warning labels.

In response to rising misuse, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has designated Wegovy and Mounjaro as ‘harmful drugs’ to prevent unauthorized individual imports. This follows a significant surge in illegal imports; the Korea Customs Service detected 4,155 cases in the first half of this year, a 3.5-fold increase compared to the total cases recorded throughout all of last year. Most illegal attempts (84.8%) involved international mail via overseas websites, though imports through travelers' personal belongings have also risen. The Korea Customs Service now blocks these items regardless of quantity, and all intercepted products are subject to total destruction.

Entities

Kim Seonggon · Korea Tourism Organization · Maunzaro · Korea Customs Service · South Korean health authorities

Timeline

  1. 19 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    South Korea sees 3.5x surge in illegal Wegovy and Mounjaro imports

    Illegal imports of obesity drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro in South Korea have surged 3.5 times in the first half of the year, primarily through international mail and traveler luggage.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    South Korea sees surge in obesity drug prescriptions among young adults

    South Korea's obesity drugs Mounjaro and Wegovy have hit over 1.5 million prescriptions, driven largely by young adults and teens, prompting concerns over misuse and calls for tighter regulation.

  3. about 1 month ago

    [HEALTH] 2 sources
    Maunzaro obesity drug hits 1.5 million prescriptions in 10 months, raising misuse concerns in South Korea

    South Korea's GLP‑1 obesity drug Maunzaro reached 1.5 million prescriptions in ten months, with over half of users aged 20‑30 and teen use rising, prompting a review to label it as a drug with misuse risk.

Sources

biz.heraldcorp.com · fr.news.yahoo.com · hidomin.com · jnilbo.com · koreatimes.co.kr · kyeonggi.com · news.donga.com · seoul.co.kr

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history