Is Mitragynine legal in South Korea?
- Legal status
- Mitragynine, the principal alkaloid of kratom, is controlled together with the plant in South Korea: kratom is categorised as a psychotropic under the Narcotics Control Act, and the MFDS names kratom, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine together in barring their import as food/supplement ingredients (exact statutory basis left to confirmation).
- Consequences if caught
- Unauthorised handling of a controlled psychotropic draws imprisonment (up to several years) under the Narcotics Control Act.
- If prescribed or medical
- No lawful medical route — kratom and its alkaloids are barred from import as food/supplement ingredients and have no approved product.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route; MFDS bars import of kratom and its alkaloids.
Court records
We have not yet assessed whether court records are publicly available for this jurisdiction.
Mitragynine in related jurisdictions
Other substances confirmed in South Korea
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 →