"Even with airfare and lodging, it's cheaper than in South Korea" - As Koreans flock, Japanese hospitals compete to attract them

Import of up to a three-month supply of obesity drugs prescribed overseas allowed
Mounjaro costs around 300,000 won in South Korea, around 50,000 won in Japan
Buying abroad is cheaper even after airfare and hotel costs
Japanese hospitals move quickly to promote services with Korean-language websites and dedicated teams

After South Korea allowed people to bring in obesity drugs prescribed overseas, hospitals in Japan quickly began seeking Korean patients. They are creating Korean-language websites and assigning dedicated consultation teams, while offering consultations in Korean and even hotel delivery to attract patients traveling abroad to buy the drugs. As Japanese medical institutions step up efforts to offer convenience as well as prices up to about five times lower than in South Korea, demand for overseas trips to buy obesity drugs is expected to surge.

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Import of up to a three-month supply of overseas prescription drugs allowed

Starting November 12, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Customs Service have allowed people to bring in up to a three-month supply of medicines directly for their own treatment, provided the medicines are officially approved overseas and were prescribed and purchased through the local healthcare system. Obesity drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy are also included. For products administered once a week, people may bring in up to 12 units, equivalent to a three-month supply.

The measure was introduced to address the inconvenience of having customs clearance held up even when people entered the country carrying medicines prescribed overseas through legitimate channels. It also allows people to bring back medicines they had been using in South Korea after taking them abroad, in addition to medicines prescribed by local medical institutions while traveling overseas.

Mounjaro, an obesity treatment drug. Reuters-Yonhap News

Previously, in October 2024, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety identified Mounjaro and other drugs by name and notified the Korea Customs Service that they were hazardous medicines, restricting their import even when purchased for personal use. This prompted criticism that preventing people from using medicines personally after receiving legitimate prescriptions was excessive.

Korean-language consultations and hotel delivery...competition to attract Korean patients

Japanese medical institutions are stepping up their promotions targeting Koreans in response to the authorization of imports. A clinic in Tokyo promoted Mounjaro prescriptions on its social media account with the message "Korean patients welcome" and an emoji of the South Korean flag. In addition to highlighting the use of genuine products in Japan, reasonable prices and consultations in Korean, the clinic also advertised hotel delivery for patients staying in Japan.

Some hospitals have set up dedicated websites for Korean patients. A clinic in Tokyo has posted information on its website about how to use the clinic and the price of Mounjaro, and has made a Korean-language online medical questionnaire available. It also emphasizes that a dedicated Korean-language team provides support from booking through receipt of the medication.

A clinic in Tokyo, Japan, has launched a separate website exclusively for Korean customers to promote its services. Website screenshot

A medical institution operating more than 60 branches across Japan is also taking bookings through its Korean-language website. It advertises that patients can make an online reservation, visit a clinic according to their travel schedule, consult face-to-face with a Japanese doctor and receive the medication on site.

Cheaper even with travel costs...safety oversight remains a challenge

The price difference between South Korea and Japan is a key reason these providers are actively seeking Korean patients. In South Korea, a four-week supply of Mounjaro at the lowest dose of 2.5 mg costs about 280,000 to 350,000 won. Some clinics in Japan, by contrast, list the same dose at 7,000 to 7,500 yen (about 59,000 to 62,000 won). That is around one-fifth of the price in South Korea.

Since news of the import authorization emerged, posts sharing information on how to book appointments at hospitals in Japan, drug prices and airfare costs have appeared one after another on South Korean social media. Interest in traveling overseas to buy the drug is also growing, with a new slang term, "Sushizaro," emerging to refer to Mounjaro purchased in Japan.

However, an increase in overseas purchases could raise concerns about drug safety. Mounjaro and Wegovy are prescription drugs that must be kept at the appropriate temperature. If proper storage and transport conditions are not maintained while bringing them home after purchase overseas, their quality could be affected. Patients should also consider whether they will be able to continue receiving medical care and follow-up from healthcare professionals if they experience adverse reactions after returning home.

There is also a possibility that the system allowing imports for personal treatment could be abused for purposes such as proxy purchasing or resale. Some say authorities should monitor the distribution and use of imported medicines to ensure the system's intent—legitimate prescriptions and personal use—is not undermined. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to continue monitoring patterns of overseas medicine imports after the system takes effect, in cooperation with the Korea Customs Service.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.