Travelers from certain nations to be searched as war on drugs intensifies

The Korean government on Wednesday rolled out a comprehensive plan to combat illegal drug crime amid a surging number of drug offenses.

Government Policy Coordination Minister Bang Ki-seon speaks about the government's comprehensive plan to combat illegal drug crimes during a press briefing at Government Complex Seoul, central Seoul, on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

The Korean government on Wednesday rolled out a comprehensive plan to combat illegal drug crime amid a surging number of drug offenses.

The measures focus on strengthening drug crackdowns, improving the management system of drugs for medical uses and expanding treatment infrastructure, according to the Office for Government Policy Coordination on Wednesday.

All travelers entering Korea from countries with high drug crime rates will be searched for drugs upon arrival.

Medical professionals with drug addictions will have their licenses canceled, while those who overprescribe narcotic analgesics will be suspended.

Coming a year after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a war on drugs last October, the measures involve 15 ministries, including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For next year, the government allocated a budget of 60.2 billion won ($46 million) to fight drug crime, more than twofold this year’s spending.

The measures come as drug smuggling cases rose from 86 in 2021 to 129 as of September this year, according to the government Wednesday.

Drug offenders totaled 20,230 from January to September this year, while the authorities confiscated some 822 kilograms of drugs, up 48 percent and 45 percent on year, respectively.

Drug screenings of incoming travelers will be enhanced using millimeter wave scanners at air and sea ports.

The device can detect objects hidden underneath a person’s clothing, taking just three seconds to examine an individual.

All inbound travelers from certain countries prone to drug crime will have their belongings and persons inspected as soon as they disembark, even before going through immigration.

Packages from countries with high amounts of drug crime will be separately examined, with over half of them undergoing drug screening.

To prevent the misprescription and overprescription of drugs for medical uses, like fentanyl and propofol, the number of prescriptions for such medicines will be limited. Doctors will also need to check the patients’ past prescriptions for the medicines.

The country will increase the number of hospitals offering drug addiction treatment from 25 to 30 next year.

More rehabilitation centers will be built nationwide, from the current three in Seoul, Busan and Daejeon to 17.

A 24/7 call center to which people with substance use disorders can reach out will begin operations in March.

“The government will make every effort to respond to the expansion of drug crimes,” Government Policy Coordination Minister Bang Ki-seon said.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]