South Korean authorities have eased restrictions on the personal importation of injectable weight-loss medications, allowing travelers to bring up to a three-month supply—defined as six pens—into the country.
- Clinical Information: Peptide-based medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro require strict cold-chain maintenance (refrigeration) to prevent molecular degradation.
- Safety Risk: If temperatures are not properly maintained during transport, drugs may undergo changes or cause serious side effects.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the Korea Customs Service announced the policy change on the 12th, ending previous strict import bans. Previously, the MFDS blocked imports citing the inability to track manufacturing pathways and the absence of legal recourse for patients should complications arise.
South Korea will begin allowing people entering the country to carry limited quantities of weight management drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro if they were legally prescribed and purchased overseas. https://t.co/B8Z53s6RB5 pic.twitter.com/3Ba5DIK3g1
Political pressure intensified during a National Assembly session, where Representative Lee Jun-seok criticized the existing framework as “administrative convenience” that penalized patients following legitimate medical protocols.
The term “Sushizaro”—a portmanteau of “sushi” and the drug “Mounjaro”—has emerged to describe the trend of South Korean patients traveling to Japan to secure lower-priced medications. The price gap is substantial; a four-week supply of the lowest dose of Mounjaro costs approximately 300,000 KRW in South Korea, whereas the same dosage can be acquired for roughly 100,000 KRW in Japanese clinics.
This difference is largely driven by Japan’s national health insurance system, which covers Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes treatment and has recently mandated a 25% price reduction for the drug.
Medical experts warn that transporting temperature-sensitive biological products presents health hazards. Peptide-based drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are susceptible to denaturation if exposed to improper temperatures during international travel.
| Factor | Domestic Prescription | Personal Importation |
|---|---|---|
| Price (4-week supply) | ~300,000 KRW | ~100,000 KRW (Japan) |
| Legal Status | Fully compliant | Conditional (3-month limit) |
Jeong Eun-kyeong, Minister of Health and Welfare, indicated in parliamentary testimony that the ministry is evaluating the feasibility of including obesity treatments in the national health insurance coverage for patients with severe comorbidities.
South Korea Permits Personal Import of Obesity Treatments From November 12, patients can bring up to a three-month supply of properly prescribed and purchased medicines from abroad, including $NVO's Wegovy and $LLY's Mounjaro. The motivation? Significant price differences…
