South Korean drug regulation and enforcement

South Korean authorities are intensifying efforts to combat drug abuse and smuggling through both regulatory oversight and inter-agency cooperation.

In late August, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety initiated investigations into 13 medical institutions and 13 individuals regarding the suspected abuse of propofol. The investigation targeted ‘medical shopping,’ a practice where patients visit multiple clinics to obtain excessive prescriptions, often for cosmetic procedures. To address this, the government implemented a ‘Propofol Administration History Verification System’ to allow doctors to review a patient’s prior year administration history before prescribing.

By mid-September, focus expanded to maritime drug smuggling following the discovery of suspected ketamine disguised as tea bags on Jeju Island. This discovery contributed to a total of approximately 40kg of suspected narcotics recovered along the Jeju coast since September of the previous year. In response to these trends, the government announced plans to establish dedicated drug investigation units within the new Serious Crime Investigation Agency and enhance cooperation between customs, police, and maritime authorities.