Can I bring Methadone to Korea?
Methadone
Required사전 승인 필요
Methadone requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Korea lists methadone in annex 2 of the Narcotics Control Act enforcement decree. You need written MFDS approval before entering with it. Methadone is not marketed in Korea and no maintenance or guest-dosing programs exist, so you must carry your entire approved supply for the whole stay.
How to apply for MFDS approval →How Korea classifies it
Under the Narcotics Control Act, Methadone 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
Can I get methadone dosed at a Korean clinic?
No. Methadone is not on the Korean pharmaceutical market and Korea runs no methadone maintenance programs. The only option is the MFDS permit for the supply you carry, which covers up to 90 days.
Related medications
- Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab)
- Morphine (MS Contin, Kadian)
- Fentanyl (Duragesic, Durogesic)
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex, Norspan)
- Codeine
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.