No. Kratom remains illegal in South Korea under the Narcotics Control Act, classified alongside Schedule I substances. Importation, possession, or use triggers severe penalties, including imprisonment up to 10 years. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and Korea Customs Service actively enforce bans, with recent 2026 amendments tightening border controls.
Key Regulations for Kratom in South Korea
- Narcotics Control Act (2026 Amendment): Explicitly lists Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) as a prohibited narcotic, aligning with global anti-kratom policies.
- Customs Enforcement: Korea Customs Service conducts mandatory inspections of herbal imports, seizing kratom-containing products at ports of entry.
- Penal Provisions: Violations incur fines up to ₩50 million (~$38,000) or imprisonment for 5–10 years, with aggravated penalties for trafficking.
Local pharmacies and traditional medicine practitioners face licensing revocations for unauthorized kratom-related activities. The MFDS’s 2025 risk assessment report cited concerns over kratom’s opioid-like effects, reinforcing the ban. Travelers carrying kratom risk detention, even in transit.