Debate Shifts to Ownership of Warehouse‑Type Pharmacies in Korea

The discussion within Korea’s pharmacist community about warehouse‑type pharmacies (창고형약국) is moving from the question of whether large pharmacies should be permitted to who actually runs them. The government argues that assessments of legality should focus on the source of capital, profit‑sharing arrangements and the degree of external influence on management decisions, rather than merely the pharmacy’s size or shelf layout. Rapid growth of warehouse‑type pharmacies has heightened concerns among pharmacists. A case reported by the pharmacist forum 약사공론 described a corporation—not a pharmacist—preparing to open a warehouse‑type pharmacy and recruiting pharmacists, prompting the local pharmacy community to raise possible violations of pharmacy law. The shift in focus underscores regulatory scrutiny of non‑pharmacist ownership and the need for transparent governance in the expanding warehouse‑pharmacy model.