What is the most used drug in Korea? Demystifying Medication and Illicit Substance Trends

October 7, 2025 •

4 min read

In South Korea, nearly 1.72 million people with chronic conditions were taking 10 or more types of medication in June 2025, highlighting the complexity of answering, 'What is the most used drug in Korea?'. This high rate of polypharmacy is driven by a combination of a robust universal healthcare system, an aging population, and an increase in chronic disease prevalence. Therefore, the 'most used drug' cannot be pinpointed to a single substance but depends on whether one is referring to prescription, over-the-counter, or illicit drug categories.

Quick Summary

This article explores the question of the most used drug in Korea by examining prescription patterns for chronic diseases, popular over-the-counter medications, and the prevalence of illicit substances. It also analyzes the significant role of highly consumed lifestyle substances like alcohol and caffeine.

Key Points

Polymorbidity and Polypharmacy: The most prevalent prescription drug use is concentrated among the elderly, who often take multiple medications for chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
Prevalence of Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine remains the most commonly abused illicit drug in South Korea, according to seizure data and wastewater analysis.
OTC Accessibility and Usage: Over-the-counter analgesics, cold medicines, and digestive aids are widely used for self-treatment and are easily accessible at pharmacies nationwide.
Highest Per Capita Alcohol Consumption: In terms of hard liquor, South Koreans consume more than any other country, with soju being the most significant driver.
Lifestyle Caffeine Dependency: High-caffeine beverages, including coffee and energy drinks, are extremely popular and widely consumed, especially among the younger generation.
A Complex Public Health Issue: The most-used substance in Korea depends on the category (legal vs. illicit, prescription vs. OTC), with each reflecting different aspects of public health and societal behavior.

Unpacking Prescription Drug Use in Korea

South Korea's universal National Health Insurance (NHI) system provides widespread access to medical care, which significantly influences prescription drug trends. A high rate of doctor's visits, particularly among the elderly, results in a substantial number of prescription medications being dispensed annually.

Prevalence of Chronic Disease Medications: Studies show that for patients with polypharmacy—the use of multiple medications—common prescriptions often target chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The most commonly prescribed drugs in this category have included aspirin (100 mg), atorvastatin, metformin, glimepiride, and rosuvastatin.
Impact of an Aging Population: As the population ages, the rates of multimorbidity and polypharmacy are rising, particularly among those aged 65 and over. In 2021, 64.2% of seniors aged 75 and older were taking five or more medications, a number that continues to grow. This trend means that a significant portion of drug use is concentrated among a specific demographic managing complex health issues.
High-Cost Drug Use: While general prescription drug consumption is high, spending is concentrated among 'high-cost users' who typically have multiple chronic conditions. A 2019 study showed that the top 5% of prescription drug users accounted for over a third of total annual drug costs, with common conditions including hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia.

The Role of Over-the-Counter Medications

Beyond prescriptions, South Koreans also rely heavily on a range of over-the-counter (OTC) medications for managing common ailments. Research indicates that OTC drugs are widely used, with the most common categories being antipyretics, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Commonly Purchased OTCs:
- Pain and Fever Relievers: Acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and ibuprofen are readily available and widely used.
- Cold and Flu Remedies: Brands like Panpyrin Q and Pancold A, which contain a mix of ingredients for general cold symptoms, are popular choices.
- Digestive Aids: After heavy meals, products like digestive enzymes (e.g., Bearse) and gas relief medications are common.
Accessibility: South Korea’s pharmacies are ubiquitous, and many of these non-prescription drugs are easily accessible, contributing to their high usage rates.

The Shadow of Illicit Drug Trends

While prescription and OTC drugs dominate legal use, illicit drug consumption, though generally lower than in many Western countries, is a growing public health concern.

The Most Abused Illicit Drug: Law enforcement records and wastewater-based epidemiology studies consistently show that methamphetamine (METH) is the most frequently abused and seized illicit drug in South Korea. Trends from 2022 confirmed methamphetamine and cannabis as the most common illicit drugs, accounting for approximately 50% of all drug cases.
Diversification of Illegal Substances: Alongside methamphetamine, authorities have noted an increase in the use of other illicit substances, including MDMA, ketamine, and various new psychoactive substances.
Increasing Drug Offenses: Despite strict anti-drug laws, the number of drug offenders and confiscated drugs has been on the rise in recent years, indicating a worrisome trend.

The Impact of Societal and Lifestyle Substances

Any discussion of drug use in Korea would be incomplete without mentioning the prevalent societal consumption of substances that, while legal, are used for their psychoactive effects.

Global Leader in Alcohol Consumption: South Korea has one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption globally, particularly hard liquor, fueled by the popularity of Soju. A 2023 study found that the proportion of adult drinkers was around 74.8%, highlighting its widespread use.
Widespread Caffeine Consumption: Caffeine consumption is high, particularly in the form of coffee and high-caffeine energy drinks. The prevalence of caffeine consumption has notably increased among teenagers in recent years.

A Comparison of Drug Use in Korea


Category	Primary Substances	Reasons for Use	User Demographics	Regulation & Accessibility
Prescription	Statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin), metformin, aspirin, glimepiride	Management of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia	Heavily concentrated among the elderly population and patients with multimorbidity	Available via doctor's prescription under the National Health Insurance system
Over-the-Counter	Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, cold/flu medications (Panpyrin, Pancold), digestive aids	Self-treatment for common ailments such as pain, fever, colds, and indigestion	General population seeking quick relief for minor health issues	Easily purchased at pharmacies without a prescription
Illicit	Methamphetamine, cannabis, MDMA, ketamine	Abuse for recreational or stimulant effects	A diverse and growing group of users, with younger individuals increasingly involved	Strict legal restrictions; use results in severe penalties
Lifestyle	Soju (alcohol), coffee, energy drinks	Social consumption, stimulation, and cultural practice	Widespread across the adult population, with increasing use among adolescents for caffeine	Generally legal, but regulated by age and location restrictions

Conclusion: The Complex Landscape of Drug Use

The question, "What is the most used drug in Korea?", reveals a far more complex picture than a single answer can provide. The most widely consumed legal substances are likely commonplace lifestyle choices like soju and coffee, deeply integrated into Korean social and work culture. When considering pharmaceuticals, the high prevalence of chronic diseases in the aging population means that medications for conditions like hypertension and diabetes are extensively prescribed. Concurrently, over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen and cold remedies are popular for self-medication. On the other hand, the most prevalent illicit substance, methamphetamine, continues to be a persistent public health challenge. This multifaceted landscape demonstrates that high drug usage in Korea is influenced by a combination of demographic shifts, healthcare accessibility, and ingrained cultural practices, each category having its own distinct 'most used' contender.

For additional information on pharmaceutical trends and public health initiatives, the Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety website is a valuable resource. (Note: Ensure the link is updated for the most current information).

Frequently Asked Questions

For patients with multiple chronic conditions, common prescriptions include drugs like atorvastatin and metformin for hyperlipidemia and diabetes, respectively. The specific 'most common' drug varies, but statins and other cardiovascular medications are frequently prescribed to the aging population.

While the scale of illicit drug use in South Korea is lower than in some other countries, it is a growing concern. Methamphetamine is the most abused illegal drug, and authorities have noted an increase in drug offenses and seizures in recent years.

The high rate of polypharmacy among the elderly is due to a combination of factors, including longer lifespans leading to multiple chronic diseases and high accessibility to healthcare services. Statistics show that a large percentage of seniors take five or more medications regularly.

Popular over-the-counter medications in Korea include common pain and fever relievers (acetaminophen and ibuprofen), all-in-one cold and flu remedies, and various digestive aids for indigestion and bloating.

In terms of per capita consumption, particularly of hard liquor like soju, alcohol is one of the most heavily used substances in South Korea, surpassing many other countries. It is widely used in social and cultural settings.

South Korea's universal National Health Insurance system ensures that most residents have broad access to medical services. This leads to a high frequency of doctor visits and prescription drug use across the population, especially for chronic conditions.

Yes, due to the high rate of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use, healthcare professionals and researchers are focusing on deprescribing initiatives to reduce the medication burden on older adults.