Is Zolpidem legal in South Korea?
- Legal status
- Zolpidem is a controlled psychotropic medicine under South Korea's Act on the Control of Narcotics, transposing its 1971 Convention Schedule IV status; it is one of the country's most prescribed hypnotics and is dispensed only on prescription.
- Consequences if caught
- Unauthorised supply of this scheduled psychotropic is an offence under the narcotics-control law; a prescribed personal supply is lawful.
- If prescribed or medical
- Zolpidem is prescribed short-term for insomnia as a controlled psychotropic hypnotic subject to prescription monitoring.
- Documentation
- A traveller carries prescribed zolpidem with the prescription; personal-import controls apply to psychotropics.
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 →