Airport Drug Seizures in Korea Jump 5.6-Fold in Four Years

Drug seizures at South Korean airports have risen more than fivefold over the past four years, with cases topping 600 last year and already exceeding 500 in the first half of this year alone.

Customs authorities recorded 623 drug seizures during entry and departure procedures at domestic airports last year, up 5.6 times from 112 in 2022, according to data submitted to Rep. Boo Seung-chan of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, on the 17th.

Annual figures showed 112 cases involving 36,155 grams in 2022, 177 cases with 148,099 grams in 2023, 198 cases with 139,687 grams in 2024 and 623 cases with 279,455 grams in 2025. Through June of this year, 509 cases involving 174,734 grams had been detected, approaching last year's full-year total.

By location, Incheon International Airport accounted for 592 cases last year, or 95% of the total. Gimhae Airport recorded 23 cases, Jeju Airport seven and Daegu Airport one.

Jeju Airport reported relatively few cases but a sharp increase in the volume seized, rising 122-fold to 15,978 grams last year from 131 grams in 2024.

By substance, seizures of new psychoactive substances climbed about eightfold to 314 cases last year from 39 in 2022. Cannabis seizures roughly tripled to 234 cases last year from 80 in 2024.

"Drug enforcement figures are hitting record highs every year, and the increase in new psychoactive substances is especially steep," Boo said. "The airport corporation and the Korea Customs Service must strengthen a joint response system to share data on irregularities detected in security screening and customs seizures, establishing cooperation that can effectively reduce drug trafficking."