Is Cathinone legal in South Korea?
- Legal status
- Controlled — cathinone (khat's natural principal alkaloid) is a 1971 Convention SCHEDULE I psychotropic and is controlled as a psychotropic substance under the Narcotics Control Act. Mechanism: 1971 Sch-I transposition, named. As the parent compound it is DISTINCT from the khat PLANT (Catha edulis leaf, not named and caught via its cathinone content) and from the synthetic cathinones (mephedrone and analogues, temporarily/permanently scheduled) that derive from it; cathinone is the named psychotropic alkaloid, cathine the milder controlled metabolite (1971 Schedule III).
- Consequences if caught
- Controlled psychotropic: possession and supply of the alkaloid prosecuted under the Narcotics Control Act. South Korea carries out no drug executions (abolitionist in practice).
- If prescribed or medical
- 1971 Schedule I substance with no accepted medical use and no lawful prescription route for the isolated alkaloid.
- Documentation
- No licit personal-import route for a controlled psychotropic.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with South Korea’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
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