Can I bring my prescription medication into Korea?

Usually yes, for your own use: up to 6 bottles or a 3-month supply. Medicines with narcotic or psychotropic ingredients need approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you arrive, and cannabis products, including CBD oil, are banned. What to do 1. Check the active ingredients. Korea Customs names sleeping pills and tranquilizers such as zolpidem, diazepam, alprazolam and lorazepam as examples that need prior MFDS approval. Not sure? Ask MFDS before you travel. 2. If your medicine is controlled, apply to MFDS before you enter Korea. This applies to every nationality; you can apply online, and the MFDS page has manuals in English and other languages. 3. Keep medicines in their original, clearly labeled packaging, and carry your prescription or a doctor's note. 4. Need more than 6 bottles or a 3-month supply? Extra paperwork is required, so check with customs first. 5. For long-term treatment, plan to get refills from a doctor in Korea. Good to know • Bringing in cannabis products, including CBD oil, can lead to criminal punishment. • Sleeping pills prescribed in Korea may be restricted when you bring them back from a trip abroad. • Questions about approval: MFDS Narcotics Policy Division, 043-719-2813. Official sources • MFDS – Permit to bring in narcotics (English): https://mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_60/view.do?seq=72497 • Korea Customs (Incheon) – medicines and narcotics (Korean): https://www.customs.go.kr/incheon/cm/cntnts/cntntsView.do?mi=10784&cntntsId=5480 This is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 119. Checked by the Verihood team on October 3, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you act.