Traveling to Korea with pain medication

Annex 1 narcotic. Prescribed within Korea, so long-stay pain care can transfer to a local doctor.

Annex 1. Barely marketed in Korea, so bring your full approved supply.

Annex 2, patches included. Durogesic is used in Korean hospitals, so handover is possible.

Annex 1. Korea sells only 2 mg tablets and injections; ER forms have no local equivalent.

Annex 2. Marketed in Korea in IR and ER forms, so refills are realistic.

Annex 1 narcotic with one carve-out: combination products at 20 mg codeine or less per dose count as exempt. Tylenol No. 3 (30 mg) is above the line.

The surprise of this list: tramadol is not scheduled in Korea, unlike US Schedule IV. It travels as an ordinary prescription medicine and is widely prescribed there as Tridol and Ultracet.

Neither is controlled in Korea despite US scheduling. Lyrica sells there under the same name.

Uncontrolled and sold over the counter in Korea. The customs personal-use rule applies.

Tramadol is a controlled substance at home. Why not in Korea?

Korea simply has not scheduled it under the Narcotics Control Act; it appears in no annex of the enforcement decree, and its Korean product listings show a regular prescription drug. The permit that covers oxycodone or codeine does not apply to it.

How much opioid medication can a permit cover?

Up to a 90-day supply. Apply online at nedrug.mfds.go.kr or by email to narcotics@korea.kr 3 to 4 weeks before travel; results are issued within 10 business days. Carry the permit and prescription with the medication and declare on arrival.

Can Korean doctors continue my opioid prescription?

Often, but check your specific molecule: oxycodone, fentanyl patches, and tapentadol are prescribed in Korea, while hydrocodone barely exists there and oxymorphone not at all. Each ingredient page on this site states the local availability.