South Korea sees illegal weight-loss drug imports surge threefold in first half of year
Customs data reveal that attempts to bring in prohibited weight-loss medicines such as Wegovy and Mounjaro rose to over three times the total recorded for all of last year.
Customs figures released on Monday show a dramatic rise in illegal attempts to bring weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Mounjaro into South Korea, with 4,155 cases recorded from January through June—more than triple the 1,189 cases logged for the whole of last year. Legal entries of the same medications numbered 391 in the first half of the year, compared with 191 the previous year. The bulk of the illegal flow came through international mail, accounting for 3,489 shipments, far above the 1,046 cases seen last year.
Additionally, 656 cases involved individuals trying to transport the drugs in hand luggage, up from 134. The Korea Customs Service emphasized that unauthorized imports violate the Customs Act and will be subject to punishment, pledging to block the illicit entry of harmful pharmaceuticals at the border.
Why it matters
The surge highlights growing demand for banned weight-loss drugs and challenges customs enforcement in South Korea.
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