Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
Customs service warns against products containing marijuana
From left, items related to marijuana that were seized by the Korea Customs Service: marijuana cartridges, hemp gummies, marijuana chocolate and a salad dressing containing hemp oil. Courtesy of Korea Customs Service
By Anna J. Park
The Korea Customs Service (KCS) has cautioned against travelers bringing in various forms of cannabis products, such as gummies, chocolates and oils, from overseas destinations where the use of marijuana is legal, as overseas travel plans come into full swing over the New Year.
The KCS announced Tuesday that the country's Narcotics Control Act stipulates that those who bring in marijuana products without approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, even if in the form of popular items like oils or chocolates, are subject to penalties.
The agency added that the number of such breaches are rising, stressing that it is crucial to accurately identify products and whether they contain ingredients regulated by the Narcotics Control Act.
"Purchasing products at online or offline stores from countries or regions where marijuana is legalized, items with phrases or images related to marijuana components, such as hemp, cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN), should be avoided," the customs agency highlighted.
The use of cannabis is legalized for recreational use in 24 U.S. states and in Washington D.C., as well as Canada, Thailand, Uruguay, Malta, Luxembourg, Georgia and South Africa.
Furthermore, the customs office emphasized that individuals who receive such products as gifts from acquaintances residing abroad could also face penalties, adding that they could also be subject to punishment even if such products are consumed overseas.
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Under the Narcotics Control Act, individuals involved in cultivating, possessing, acquiring, transporting, storing or using marijuana, or smoking or ingesting marijuana stems or seeds, may face imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won ($38,431).
"With the number of countries legalizing marijuana increasing, it may be easy to lose awareness of the seriousness of marijuana. However, it is important to be aware that easily accessible marijuana products can be the gateway to serious involvement with narcotics," an official from the Korea Customs Service warned, vowing that it will continue to rigorously regulate narcotics to ensure public safety.