Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Illegal Weight-Loss Drug Imports Surge in South Korea
South Korean officials found many people trying to bring two weight-loss medicines into the country illegally.
The medicines are called Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Customs found 4,155 illegal import cases in the first half of the year.
Most of these shipments came through the mail after people bought the medicines online from other countries.
Some travelers also carried the medicines with them.
Bringing these drugs in travelers’ hand luggage is not allowed.
Customs said illegal imports violate the law and can be punished.
Meanwhile, two large South Korean drug companies spent more than 100 billion won each researching new medicines.
South Korean customs detected 4,155 illegal Wegovy and Mounjaro import cases in the first half of the year, compared with 1,189 during all of 2025.
Illegal mail shipments accounted for 3,489 cases, while 656 cases involved travelers carrying the medications.
Wegovy and Mounjaro are banned from being brought into South Korea in travelers’ hand luggage.
Only 391 cases involving the drugs were legally cleared by customs in the first half of the year, compared with 191 in all of 2025.
Yuhan Corporation and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation each spent more than 100 billion won on drug research and development in the first half of the year.
- Who
- The Korea Customs Service, overseas buyers, travelers, and South Korean pharmaceutical companies including Yuhan Corporation and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corporation.
- What
- Authorities reported a sharp rise in illegal imports of Wegovy and Mounjaro, while two major pharmaceutical companies reported substantial research and development spending.
- When
- The import figures and R&D spending cover the first half of the year, compared with figures from all of 2025.
- Where
- South Korea, involving medicines purchased from overseas and shipped or carried into the country.
- Why
- People increasingly purchased the medicines through overseas online malls, while customs sought to prevent the illegal inflow of pharmaceuticals.
Consumers and pharmaceutical demand
Customs enforcement and regulation
Access to weight-loss medicines
Consumers and pharmaceutical demand
People increasingly purchased Wegovy and Mounjaro from overseas online malls and had them delivered internationally.
Customs enforcement and regulation
The Korea Customs Service said unauthorized imports violate the Customs Act and that the medicines are banned in travelers’ hand luggage.
Border policy
Consumers and pharmaceutical demand
The rising number of attempted imports indicates continued demand for the medicines through overseas purchasing channels.
Customs enforcement and regulation
Customs said it would thoroughly block the illegal inflow of harmful pharmaceuticals at the border, with unauthorized imports subject to punishment.
- Illegal import cases
- 4,155 Wegovy and Mounjaro cases were detected in the first half of the year.
- 2025 comparison
- 1,189 illegal cases were recorded during all of 2025.
- Mail shipments
- 3,489 illegal cases involved international mail in the first half of the year.
- Traveler cases
- 656 cases involved individuals carrying the medicines into the country.
- Legal clearances
- 391 cases were legally cleared by customs in the first half of the year, compared with 191 in all of 2025.
- Yuhan Corporation R&D
- The company spent 122.2 billion won, equal to 10.5 percent of first-half sales.
- Chong Kun Dang R&D
- The company spent 113.5 billion won, or 12.3 percent of first-half sales.