Can I bring Lomotil to Korea?
Diphenoxylate · Lomotil
Required사전 승인 필요
Lomotil (active ingredient: Diphenoxylate) requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Korea lists diphenoxylate in annex 2 of the Narcotics Control Act enforcement decree, so Lomotil needs written MFDS approval before entry, an awkward requirement for a traveler's diarrhea medicine. No diphenoxylate product is sold in Korea.
How to apply for MFDS approval →How Korea classifies it
Under the Narcotics Control Act, Diphenoxylate is a narcotic (마약), listed in annex 2 of the enforcement decree, the decree's second narcotics schedule, which covers synthetic opioids and related compounds. 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
What should go in my travel diarrhea kit instead of Lomotil?
Loperamide (Imodium), which is not controlled in Korea and is sold in Korean pharmacies without a prescription. It covers the same situations without any border paperwork.
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Verified 2026-08-23
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MedsToKorea is an independent site with no affiliation to the Korean government. 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.