Is Methadone legal in South Korea?
- Legal status
- Methadone is a narcotic under the Narcotics Control Act, but South Korea has NO methadone-maintenance programme — methadone is not available for OST (there is no agonist-maintenance system; treatment is abstinence-oriented).
- Consequences if caught
- Unauthorised possession or use up to 5 years or more; trafficking heavier.
- If prescribed or medical
- No OST maintenance route exists — WHO opioid-agonist medicines are unavailable domestically and reachable only via special KOEDC import consent.
- Documentation
- Carrying methadone effectively requires special import consent (KOEDC) plus a narcotics declaration; confirm before travel.
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
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →