Can I bring Codeine to Korea?
Codeine
Required사전 승인 필요
Codeine requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Codeine is a narcotic in Korea (annex 1 of the enforcement decree), and entering with codeine medication needs written MFDS approval. One carve-out exists: combination products with 20 mg of codeine or less per dose, mixed with several non-narcotic ingredients, count as exempt narcotics under Korean law. Most travel-relevant products (Tylenol No. 3 at 30 mg, co-codamol 30/500) are above that line, so treat them as narcotics and apply for approval.
How to apply for MFDS approval →How Korea classifies it
Under the Narcotics Control Act, Codeine is a narcotic (마약), listed in annex 1 of the enforcement decree, the decree's first narcotics schedule, which covers opium-derived and related substances. The classification attaches to the substance itself, so it applies to every product, brand, and dosage form that contains it. That is why the entry rule does not depend on how much you carry or whether your home prescription is valid: the substance triggers the permit requirement on its own.
Before you fly
- 1.Apply for the MFDS self-treatment permit at least 3 to 4 weeks before departure, online at nedrug.mfds.go.kr or by email to narcotics@korea.kr. Results are issued within 10 business days.
- 2.Prepare a passport copy, your flight itinerary, the prescription, and a doctor's note stating diagnosis and daily dose, in Korean or English. The permit covers up to a 90-day supply.
- 3.Pack the medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label attached. Loose pills in an unmarked container invite questions you do not want at the border.
- 4.On arrival, take the goods-to-declare channel and show the permit with the medication.
Questions
My codeine product is low dose. Is it exempt?
The exemption applies at 20 mg of codeine or less per single dose in a multi-ingredient product. If your product qualifies, it is handled as an ordinary prescription medicine. If you are not sure, email the MFDS at narcotics@korea.kr with the label before you travel; customs applies the narcotic rules when the dose is above the line.
Is codeine prescribed within Korea?
Yes. Codeine 20 mg cough preparations are approved in Korea, so a doctor there can prescribe an equivalent if you run out.
Related medications
- Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab)
- Morphine (MS Contin, Kadian)
- Fentanyl (Duragesic, Durogesic)
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex, Norspan)
- Methadone
Verified 2026-08-23
Check another medication
Travel preparation only, not medical or legal advice. Regulations change: confirm with the MFDS, Korea Customs Service, or a Korean embassy before traveling. We store no searches and no health data.