South Korea: Guidelines for Importing Medicines for Personal Use

1. Does South Korea allow individuals to import unregistered prescription drugs by mail order?

Allow. South Korea stipulates that individuals can mail-order a three- month supply of medicine for their own use without applying for a permit. This is provided that the medicine does not contain controlled ingredients such as narcotics or stimulants and is for personal use only and not for resale.

2. Do I need to submit an application to the government in advance when importing medicines for my own use?

No prior application is required. However, there is a small chance that customs will conduct random inspections and require you to provide a copy of your prescription or a doctor's certificate stating that the medicine is required for personal treatment.

3. How much tariff do individuals need to pay for imported medicines?

South Korea exempts imported medicines from tariffs. If the value of each batch of parcels exceeds USD150 , formal customs declaration may be required but it will not affect the quantity regulations for drug imports.