Can I bring Lunesta to Korea?
Eszopiclone · Lunesta
Required사전 승인 필요
Lunesta (active ingredient: Eszopiclone) requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Eszopiclone is not named in Korea's narcotics decree, but the annexes cover each listed substance plus its salts and isomers, and eszopiclone is the S-isomer of zopiclone (annex 6). Lunesta is therefore a controlled psychotropic in Korea, and you need written MFDS approval before entering with it.
How to apply for MFDS approval →How Korea classifies it
Under the Narcotics Control Act, Eszopiclone is a psychotropic substance (향정신성의약품), listed in annex 6 of the enforcement decree, the schedule for psychotropic medicines in medical use with comparatively lower abuse risk. 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.
If you refill in Korea
Questions
Eszopiclone is not on Korea's list. Why is Lunesta still controlled?
The decree annex covers each listed substance "and its salts and isomers". Eszopiclone is the S-isomer of zopiclone, which is listed in annex 6, so Lunesta falls under the same rules as zopiclone.
Can I get eszopiclone in Korea?
Yes. Eszopiclone is approved and sold in Korea under local brands such as Jopista, so a doctor there can continue your prescription. The Lunesta brand itself is not marketed in Korea.
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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.