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

Charlie’s Says 30 PACHA Vape SKUs Tentatively Identified for FDA’s Non-Priority Enforcement Public List
Charlie’s Says 30 PACHA Vape SKUs Tentatively Identified for FDA’s Non-Priority Enforcement Public List
Charlie’s Holdings said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified the company on June 23, 2026, that 30 PACHA vape SKUs with submitted PMTAs had been tentatively identified for inclusion on a planned public-facing FDA webpage. Under enforcement guidance issued by FDA in May, the webpage is intended to identify certain unauthorized products for which the agency generally does not intend to prioritize enforcement of premarket authorization requirements. Charlie’s disclosed the development alongside second-quarter revenue of $3.8 million, up 116% year over year.
Aug.25
Product | JTI Expands Ploom Ecosystem as LYO Tobacco-Free Nicotine Sticks Roll Out Across Europe
Product | JTI Expands Ploom Ecosystem as LYO Tobacco-Free Nicotine Sticks Roll Out Across Europe
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is expanding its Ploom heated product ecosystem with LYO tobacco-free nicotine sticks. Designed specifically for Ploom devices, LYO contains nicotine but no tobacco. Public information shows that the product has gradually entered several European markets, including Spain, Portugal and Germany, and was officially introduced in Romania in July 2026. The launch highlights JTI’s efforts to explore broader nicotine consumable formats beyond traditional tobacco-based sticks.
JTI
Jul.21 by 2Firsts Perspectives
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
From a 2017 Launch to 48% of South Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market, KT&G Looks Back on a Decade of lil
KT&G announced on Aug. 13, 2026, that it has opened “lil Archive,” a brand exhibition space in Seoul showcasing the evolution, technology platforms and future direction of its heated tobacco brand lil since its launch in 2017. KT&G said lil now spans three major platforms — lil SOLID, lil HYBRID and lil AIBLE — with more than 30 dedicated consumables, and held a 48% share of South Korea's heated tobacco market in the second quarter of 2026. The opening comes as lil enters its 10th year, with KT&G continuing to position the brand for expansion beyond its domestic market.
Aug.14
FIFA Bans Vaping in 2026 World Cup Stadiums, Putting Nicotine Rules in Event Compliance Focus
FIFA Bans Vaping in 2026 World Cup Stadiums, Putting Nicotine Rules in Event Compliance Focus
FIFA’s 2026 World Cup stadium rules prohibit smoking, vaping and the use of any tobacco products or electronic smoking devices inside stadiums, including inner and outer perimeters, while electronic smoking devices, tobacco products, lighters and matches are listed as prohibited items, bringing nicotine-product management, venue compliance and cross-border legal differences into focus at a major global sporting event.
Jul.06
Global Tobacco Control Faces Regional Adaptation Test as Nicotine Markets Evolve, Asian Specialist Says
Global Tobacco Control Faces Regional Adaptation Test as Nicotine Markets Evolve, Asian Specialist Says
As e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches expand across global markets, a central question is gaining urgency: can tobacco control rely on a universal policy model? In an interview with 2Firsts, Asian public health and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Rashidi Mohamed bin Pakri Mohamed says Western experience remains relevant, but policies must be adapted to local culture, healthcare systems, enforcement capacity, illicit markets and clinical evidence.
Jul.08
Hunan China Tobacco Industry files heated tobacco device patent featuring adult-user identification through pressure sensing
Hunan China Tobacco Industry files heated tobacco device patent featuring adult-user identification through pressure sensing
China-based Hunan China Tobacco Industry Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Baisha Technology Co., Ltd. have filed a patent application covering an adult-user identification mechanism for heated tobacco devices. The patent proposes using flexible pressure sensors installed in the device grip area to collect pressure distribution patterns generated when users hold the device. The system evaluates factors including effective contact area, grip shape and contact duration, and combines roller movement detection to determine whether unlocking conditions are met. The filing reflects exploration of device-level user recognition and smarter interaction technologies for heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Aug.05