2026.10.06. The Fair Economy — The government has detected 949 cases of illegal online sales, brokerage, and advertising posts for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class obesity drugs.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced on the 6th that it identified 949 posts violating the Pharmacy Act through inspections of illegal online sales, brokering, and advertising of GLP-1 class obesity drugs, including overseas direct purchases, from January this year to the 30th of last month.
The most common type detected was online sales and website introductions, accounting for 716 cases (75.4%). This was followed by introductions of sales channels through cafes and blogs at 129 cases (13.6%), one-on-one chat guidance via SNS at 72 cases (7.6%), and person-to-person secondhand transactions at 32 cases (3.4%). The Ministry requested immediate access blocking for the detected posts through the Broadcasting and Communications Deliberation Committee.
GLP-1 class drugs were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, but they have rapidly emerged as next-generation new drugs that are changing the market landscape after their potent weight-loss effects were proven. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy demonstrated an average weight reduction of 14.9% over 68 weeks, while Eli Lilly's Mounjaro showed an average reduction of 20.9% over 72 weeks, proving their efficacy.
The issue is that these drugs are prescription medicines that must be taken in accordance with prescribed dosages and methods under a doctor's prescription and a pharmacist's medication guidance. According to the MFDS, they should not be distributed or purchased through online overseas direct purchases or peer-to-peer transactions.
GLP-1 class obesity drugs are pharmaceuticals that require refrigeration or freezing for storage. Even products normally distributed overseas face a high risk of degradation if proper temperatures are not maintained during domestic transit.
Overseas direct purchase products that have not received domestic approval have not been sufficiently verified for safety and efficacy. Their manufacturing and distribution processes are opaque, raising the possibility of counterfeit or substandard medicines, and they are difficult to obtain legal protection in case of side effects.
The MFDS plans to continuously inspect illegal online sales, brokerage, and advertising of GLP-1 class obesity drugs. Through this, it aims to reduce cases of misuse for cosmetic purposes and promote the safe use of pharmaceuticals.
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