South Korea Designates 5 New Drugs, Including Synthetic Marijuana and LSD

Innovation by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.13.2023
South Korea Designates 5 New Drugs, Including Synthetic Marijuana and LSD
South Korea designates 5 new substances, including synthetic cannabis and LSD, as new drugs; customs intercept 35 related cases.

According to a report by KIHOILBO, South Korea has officially identified and classified four synthetic marijuana series and one LSD series, totaling five substances, as new types of drugs.

 

Customs at Incheon International Airport have successfully intercepted five new types of domestically imported drugs in the past two years that have altered the existing chemical structure of illicit substances and possess similar effects but are not regulated by law. In June of this year, customs authorities confirmed through meticulous analysis that e-cigarette liquid smuggled into the country from Vietnam contained 'MDMB-INACA,' a compound resembling synthetic marijuana.

 

In the following two years, customs authorities have discovered four types of synthetic marijuana series with hallucinogenic effects and high addictive potential ('MDMB-INACA', 'ADB-INACA', '5C-MDA-19', 'ADB-FUBIATA'), as well as one type of LSD series ('1V-LSD') which is known to cause severe physical and psychological dependence after misuse.

 

Customs has submitted a request to the South Korean Food and Drug Safety Agency to designate these new types of drugs as controlled substances. Recently, the Food and Drug Safety Agency has officially designated these substances as new types of drugs.

 

After the designation of these new drugs, Incheon Airport Customs has successfully identified 35 cases of crimes related to the new drugs, including 17 cases of the new drug 'ADB-FUBIATA,' 13 cases of 'MDMB-INACA,' 3 cases of 'ADB-INACA,' 1 case of '1V-LSD,' and 1 case of '5C-MDA-19'.

 

Customs officials at Incheon Airport stated that they will collaborate closely with relevant departments to prevent the domestic entry of drugs, ensuring social security and safeguarding public health. Customs will also take the strictest measures to combat criminal activities involving new types of drugs.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Singapore New bill would raise maximum fines to S$200,000 for sellers and S$300,000 for smugglers
Singapore New bill would raise maximum fines to S$200,000 for sellers and S$300,000 for smugglers
A bill introduced in Singapore’s Parliament on Feb. 12 proposes major increases in penalties for vaping-related offences, including higher maximum fines for users, sellers and smugglers. The draft would also rename the current Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act as the Tobacco and Vaporisers Control Act.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
India Tobacco Board urges Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to revisit cigarette duty hike
India Tobacco Board urges Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to revisit cigarette duty hike
The Tobacco Board, under the administrative control of India’s Department of Commerce, has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (Nirmala Sitharaman) flagging the adverse impact of an “unprecedented” increase in cigarette excise duties on the industry and on millions of farmers and workers, and urging a revision of duty rates.
Feb.11 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Russia’s Volgograd fines retailer 300,000 rubles for unlabelled nicotine products, orders confiscation and destruction
Russia’s Volgograd fines retailer 300,000 rubles for unlabelled nicotine products, orders confiscation and destruction
Volgograd, Russia say a retailer was caught selling unlabelled nicotine products, including electronic nicotine delivery devices flagged in the national “Honest Sign” tracking system as already withdrawn from circulation. A local court fined the entrepreneur 300,000 rubles and ordered 41 confiscated items to be destroyed, with the decision now in effect.
Feb.05 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Special Report | China’s New Five-Year Plan Highlights “Health-First” Strategy, Providing Policy Context for Tobacco Sector
Special Report | China’s New Five-Year Plan Highlights “Health-First” Strategy, Providing Policy Context for Tobacco Sector
China’s 2026 “Two Sessions” reviewed the draft Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which proposes implementing a health-first development strategy and strengthening the effectiveness of the Patriotic Health Campaign. Although the document does not address specific industries, this public-health governance framework provides a new policy context for observing the future regulation, product strategies, and market development of China’s tobacco and next-generation nicotine sectors.
Industry Insight
Mar.08
FDA Filing Shows RIF Notices for 229 CTP Employees Were Largely Rescinded
FDA Filing Shows RIF Notices for 229 CTP Employees Were Largely Rescinded
A court declaration signed by FDA official Melanie M. Keller on March 24, 2026 detailed the status of previously issued reduction-in-force notices affecting employees at the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).
Apr.01 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Vape sellers sue to block Texas law banning e-liquids from China and other “foreign adversaries”
Vape sellers sue to block Texas law banning e-liquids from China and other “foreign adversaries”
A group of vape distributors and retailers has sued to block enforcement of a Texas law that criminalizes selling or marketing vape products containing e-liquids made wholly or partly in China or in countries designated as “foreign adversaries” by the U.S. Commerce Secretary. The plaintiffs argue the law violates the U.S. Constitution because only Congress may regulate foreign commerce.
Feb.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai