South Korea to Enforce ‘One Pharmacist, One Pharmacy’ Rule from Nov 27

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that starting November 27, the “one pharmacist, one pharmacy” principle will be explicitly regulated not only for the establishment of pharmacies but also for their ongoing operation. While the amendment to the Pharmacy Act is not retroactive, the ministry warned that pharmacists who continue to operate multiple pharmacies after the effective date may be subject to punishment. Kwak Soon‑Heon, Health‑Medical Policy Officer, explained the amendment—proposed by Rep. Seo Young‑seok—at a briefing with the Press Association, noting it will be enforced from November 27. The change mirrors the “one‑person‑one‑facility” rule applied to medical institutions.