Domestic doctor's prescription mandatory for sildenafil, tadalafil products at customs
Medications containing sildenafil or tadalafil — and other drugs designated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as prone to misuse or abuse — require a domestic doctor's prescription to clear customs, even for a single bottle.
The Incheon Airport Main Customs Office on Thursday urged the public to familiarize themselves with import restrictions on medications that can directly affect public health and safety before bringing them into the country.
Products containing sildenafil or tadalafil, widely known for their effects on erectile dysfunction, are among the most commonly intercepted items. Even a single bottle intended for personal use requires a prescription from a South Korean physician to pass through customs.
According to the customs office, 3,250 cases of sildenafil- or tadalafil-containing medications brought in via international mail without authorization were detected throughout 2025 — an 89 percent jump from 1,123 cases in the first half of the year to 2,127 in the second half. Interceptions continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 897 cases, up 39 percent from 646 cases in the same period a year earlier.
Officials attributed the surge to consumers purchasing the drugs indiscriminately from overseas websites, where order quantities are unrestricted and prices are far lower than in South Korea, where the purchasing process is strictly regulated.
India accounted for an overwhelming 99 percent of the shipments, followed by Thailand at 0.2 percent and other countries at 0.8 percent.
"We will continue to strengthen customs management of drugs prone to misuse and abuse in cooperation with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and other relevant agencies to protect public health and safety," an Incheon Airport Customs official said. "We urge people to thoroughly understand customs regulations before bringing any medications into the country to avoid any harm."
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
