South Korea to allow personal-use prescription drugs from overseas, including weight-loss injections
South Korea will allow travellers to bring in legally purchased overseas prescription drugs for personal use, including GLP-1 weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Wegovy, up to a three-month supply. Narcotic and psychotropic drugs remain banned.
South Korea's government announced on Wednesday that it will allow people entering the country to bring legally purchased overseas medications for personal treatment, including GLP-1 weight-loss and cardiovascular protection drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy. The new rules, effective from Wednesday, permit up to six bottles in principle, or more if the amount falls within a three-month supply.
Previously, even prescription drugs legally obtained abroad could be seized at the border. According to Yonhap news agency, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, after consulting the Korea Customs Service, decided to relax the rules for personal-use prescription and purchased drugs.
The change notably covers GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, which were previously difficult to bring into the country. For Mounjaro, which requires a weekly injection, a person could bring up to 12 to 13 pens, equivalent to about three months' worth.
The rules apply to South Korean citizens as well as foreigners and international students, but the drugs can only be carried in person. Narcotic and psychotropic drugs remain prohibited, including some EVE painkillers sold in Japan. Online purchases of overseas drugs are not accepted under the new rules.