Can I bring Tylenol with Codeine (No. 3 / No. 4) to Korea?
Multi-ingredient product · Tylenol 3 · Tylenol 4 · Co-codamol · Panadeine Forte · Solpadol · Zapain
Required사전 승인 필요
Tylenol with Codeine (No. 3 / No. 4) requires prior approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) before you travel.
Korean law exempts low-dose codeine combinations from narcotic controls only when a single dose contains 20 mg of codeine or less. Tylenol with Codeine No. 3 has 30 mg per tablet and No. 4 has 60 mg, so both count as narcotics and need written MFDS approval before you enter Korea.
Ingredient by ingredient
A product follows its strictest ingredient. This is how each active ingredient stands in Korea:
| Ingredient | In Korea | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Acetaminophen300 mg per tablet | OK | Same active ingredient as regular Tylenol, sold over the counter in Korea. |
| Codeine phosphate30 mg (No. 3) or 60 mg (No. 4) per tablet | Needs MFDS approval | A narcotic in Korea. This ingredient sets the verdict for the whole product. |
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
Why is Tylenol with Codeine treated differently from regular Tylenol?
Regular Tylenol is plain acetaminophen and is sold over the counter in Korea. The codeine in Tylenol No. 3 and No. 4 is a narcotic under the Korean Narcotics Control Act, and at 30 mg or more per tablet it does not qualify for the low-dose exemption, so the combination is handled as a narcotic.
What about UK co-codamol?
Co-codamol comes in 8/500, 15/500, and 30/500 strengths. The rules turn on the codeine dose per tablet, and only preparations at or below 20 mg per dose combined with several non-narcotic ingredients can qualify for Korea's exempt narcotic category. Check your strength and apply for MFDS approval if you are above the line, or ask the MFDS (narcotics@korea.kr) before you fly if you are unsure.
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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.