[News Today] Same-day buying trips for obesity drugs

[LEAD]

Demand for obesity treatment injections like Mounjaro is surging. And now, some are even illegally bringing in high-dose versions from overseas that are banned for sale in Korea.

We took a closer look at how easy it is to obtain them, even through same-day overseas trips.

[REPORT]

Illegal prescriptions for obesity drugs start with telemedicine brokerage platforms.

The advertisement says that clients can purchase authentic obesity medications with a prescription from a Japanese doctor.

A KBS reporter tried to make the purchase.

After entering basic information to get a prescription, we're connected to a Japanese doctor.

Hello.

We requested a highly potent medication that hasn't been released in Korea yet. But in just ten minutes, the consultation ended.

Japanese telemedicine broker staff / (VOICE MODIFIED)

What dosage and duration of Mounjaro would you like? (The 12.5mg and 15mg doses are not available in Korea. I need a high dose.)

We headed to Japan to get the prescription and the medication itself.

Surprisingly, the medication was obtained through not a hospital or a pharmacy, but a hotel.

Staff at hotel in Osaka / (VOICE MODIFIED)

Sign here, please. (When did the package arrive?) At 11:30.

It took about four hours to fly from Korea and get the medication at a downtown hotel in Japan.

Many people take one-day trips to Japan to buy weightloss-drugs at local clinics that are known to prescribe them easily.

The price of Mounjaro in Japan is about half the price in Korea.

Japanese clinic staff / (VOICE MODIFIED)

You can buy it if you have an interpreter. Mounjaro costs 19,000 yen.

The final hurdle is entry into Korea.

The Korean government bans travelers from bringing in these weight-loss drugs over misuse concerns.

However, telemedicine brokerage platforms advise to do the following.

Put the drugs in your carry-on luggage.

It's easy to find multiple accounts on the internet from people who say they brought in obesity drugs to Korea secretly without any problems.