Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Substance use in South Korea - statistics & facts
Due to the latest rash of high-profile drug scandals taking place in South Korea in late 2023, illegal drugs have become a hot topic once again. South Korea has strict laws prohibiting the manufacturing, distribution, and consumption of drugs, including cannabis, with limited exceptions for medical marijuana. This has always extended to South Korean citizens, even when they are abroad in countries with more relaxed drug laws. Drugs are also strongly stigmatized in Korean society, which discourages individuals from seeking treatment.
Illegal drug use and drug crime
Although cannabis is often centerstage in high-profile drug scandals, it is behind amphetamines as the second-most used illegal drug in South Korea. A 2022 survey found that first-time drug users were mostly motivated by curiosity, while ongoing users were driven by the urge or desire to continue taking drugs, generally fueled by addiction. While drug-related crimes can carry prison sentences of a year to life, first-time or small-time offenders often receive fines of under 100 million South Korean won or several years of probation. They may also be sentenced to undergo free addiction and preventative treatment in specialized facilities. Non-offenders can also apply to such programs, but few choose to do so, likely out of fear of social stigma. In 2021, less than two percent of drug offenders took part in specialized addiction treatment.South Korean drinking culture
Not all substances, however, are illegal or stigmatized. Like in many other countries, alcohol and tobacco have long been an accepted and established parts of the larger work and food culture in South Korea. It is common to go out for food and drinks with friends or work colleagues and indulge in beverages offered in Korea, ranging from soju and rice wine to international favorites such as beer. Gatherings of this sort with coworkers and bosses after work are called hoesik, and they have been a controversial part of Korean work culture for decades, as they often promote unhealthy levels of drinking and smoking. As awareness surrounding substance abuse grows, the general conversation has focused on reducing the influence of harmful substances, both legal and illegal. With this, corporate hoesik culture has also followed suit, moving away from its focus on alcohol and reducing both its frequency and pressure on attendance.
