Key facts
- South Korean authorities are seizing illegal imports of Mounjaro.
- The trend is driven by a significant price difference between Japan and South Korea.
- Mounjaro costs about one-third in Japan compared to South Korea.
South Korean customs have reported a sharp increase in seizures of the diabetes treatment Mounjaro, a drug increasingly being smuggled into the country by visitors returning from Japan. The illicit trade is fueled by a significant price disparity, with Mounjaro costing approximately one-third in Japan what it does in South Korea. This practice highlights the growing demand for weight loss medications and the lengths some consumers will go to access them at a lower cost.