What Medications Are Banned When Traveling to South Korea? Can You Bring Panadol or EVE? Misinformation Claims 5-Year Jail Sentence

Summer vacation is peak travel season, and neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea are top destinations for many Taiwanese tourists. Recently, viral online claims have warned that bringing common medications such as Panadol or EVE to South Korea could lead to severe penalties, including a five-year prison sentence. These rumors suggest that South Korea has updated its food and pharmaceutical regulations, listing popular Taiwanese and Japanese over-the-counter drugs—including EVE, Panadol, and products from Taisho Pharmaceutical—as banned substances. Allegedly, carrying these medications could result in confiscation or even criminal prosecution.

To clarify the facts, fact-checking platform MyGoPen released an investigative report.

Can You Bring EVE, Panadol, or Taisho Medications into South Korea?

The report analyzed two medications mentioned in viral content: "EVE QUICK" (a headache medicine) and "Panadol Extra Strength Pain Relief Tablets." According to a June 24 report by a Taiwanese media outlet, a South Korean tour guide shared on social media that "Taisho Hyobanou Cold Medicine" cannot be brought into South Korea due to containing regulated ingredients. South Korea's Customs Service maintains an official list of "Controlled Narcotic Substances," which includes dihydrocodeine and dextromethorphan—both prohibited from import.

MyGoPen detailed the ingredients of the two medications in question. The components of "EVE QUICK Headache Medicine" are:

- Ibuprofen - Allylisopropylacetylurea (also known as propionylurea) - Anhydrous caffeine - Magnesium oxide

Among these, "allylisopropylacetylurea" is a regulated substance in South Korea, making it illegal to bring this product into the country. The report adds that, according to pharmacist Chen Wei-chuan's analysis, multiple EVE product lines—including EVE A, EVE A EX, and others—also contain this restricted ingredient.

In contrast, the ingredients of "Panadol Extra Strength Pain Relief Tablets" are:

- Acetaminophen - Caffeine

Neither of these ingredients is restricted under South Korean law, meaning this specific Panadol product can be legally brought into the country. Therefore, the viral claim is inaccurate. So, can you bring Panadol to South Korea?

The report clarifies that the video in question likely refers to cold medicines such as "Panadol Fumao," which may contain restricted ingredients. MyGoPen searched a pharmaceutical labeling database using the term "Panadol" and found over 20 different products. Items like Panadol Coated Tablets, Panadol Extra Strength Tablets, and Panadol Fast-Acting Coated Tablets are permitted. However, products such as Panadol Fumao Day & Night Coated Tablets and Panadol Fumao Cough Relief Coated Tablets contain dextromethorphan and are therefore prohibited.

How to Check for Banned Medications

To avoid accidentally bringing prohibited drugs into South Korea, MyGoPen recommends two steps:

1. Use a pharmaceutical database to search for "dextromethorphan" and review the list of Taiwanese OTC medications containing this ingredient. 2. Check the ingredient list on the back of medication packaging and cross-reference each component with South Korea's official drug list on the Customs Service website.

The report notes that over 400 over-the-counter medications in Taiwan contain dextromethorphan. Travelers to South Korea must exercise caution to avoid legal consequences, including confiscation or prosecution.