‘Sushi-jaro’ boom: Why Koreans are smuggling obesity drugs from Japan

AI핵심 요약

• ·Seizures of overseas GLP-1 obesity drugs are surging as patients chase far lower prices abroad and critics fault the government for tougher enforcement without easing costs.
• ·Attempts to smuggle cheaper glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1) obesity drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy into Korea from overseas are surging as patients seek relief from steep domestic prices.
• ·The trend has become so widespread that online communities have coined terms such as “Sushi-jaro” and “India-jaro” for drugs purchased in lower-cost markets like Japan and India.
• ·While the government has been blocking the import of obesity drugs purchased abroad, citing misuse and safety concerns, critics say authorities are simply stepping up enforcement without offering solutions to reduce the medication cost burden for obesity patients in Korea.
• ·A total of 289 cases of travelers attempting to bring obesity drugs into the country through Incheon International Airport were detected between January and May this year, according to data provided by the Korea Customs Service to Rep.