Regulatory Updates
Sep 21, 2026•1 min read
South Korea Expands Insurance Support for Insulin Pumps and CGMs to Severe Type 2 Diabetes
The Ministry of Health and Welfare will extend coverage of insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors to severe type 2 diabetes patients with pancreatic dysfunction starting December.
1
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
MFDS to Classify GLP-1 Obesity Drugs as Potentially Abusable by September
South Korea's MFDS plans to finish designating GLP‑1 obesity treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro as ‘drugs with potential for abuse’ by September, requiring prescription‑only sales and mandatory labeling.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
Seoul Metro faces continued corporate subletting of pharmacy spaces in subway stations
Efforts to block corporate subletting of pharmacy spaces in subway stations have not stopped similar arrangements, prompting the Gangseo‑gu Pharmaceutical Association to request documents from Seoul Metro.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
KPA Refutes Remote‑Care Claim of 23.4% Medication Delivery Failure
The Korean Pharmaceutical Association rejected the remote‑medicine industry's claim that 23.4% of patients missed medication due to delivery limits, citing official health‑insurance data showing dispensing rates of 95.6% in June 2023 and 92.1% in Dec 2025.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
Korean Health Insurance Union Opposes 2027 Premium Rate Freeze
The National Health Insurance Labor Union criticized the government's decision to keep the 2027 health insurance contribution rate unchanged, warning it could accelerate financial deterioration amid rising medical demand.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
Low Adoption of Korea's 실손24 Electronic Claim Service Limits Indemnity Insurance Use
Government promotion of the 실손24 electronic claim service has seen limited uptake, with only 13% of indemnity insurance holders enrolled as of July 2026.
12
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
South Korea freezes 2027 health insurance contribution rate at 7.19%
The Ministry of Health and Welfare confirmed the 2027 health insurance premium rate will remain at 7.19% for both employee and regional subscribers, keeping the property premium score at 211.5 won.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service appoints Prof. Park as new Clinical Review Committee Chair
HIRA has appointed Ajou University Prof. Park Rae‑woong, an expert in health data and AI, as the 9th Chair of its Clinical Review Committee for a two‑year term.
1
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
Ajou University Professor Park Rae-woong Appointed Chair of HIRA Clinical Review Committee
Professor Park Rae-woong of Ajou University, an expert in health data and AI, has been appointed as the new chair of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service's Clinical Review Committee for a two‑year term starting Sep 14, 2026.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 20, 2026•1 min read
K‑Beauty Pushes for Global Regulatory Harmonization
South Korea, now the world’s second‑largest cosmetics exporter, is focusing on aligning international regulations to avoid new trade hurdles as AI and biotech integrate into products.
Regulatory Updates
Sep 19, 2026•1 min read
Public Petition Calls for Full Repeal of Telemedicine Medication Delivery Policy in Korea
A Korean public petition has quickly amassed over 25,000 signatures, urging the government to withdraw the expanded drug‑delivery policy linked to telemedicine before the Oct 3 deadline.
1
Regulatory Updates
Sep 19, 2026•1 min read
South Korea may delay convenience‑store OTC medicine expansion pending compliance review
The health ministry says expansion of safe OTC items in convenience stores could be postponed if illegal or improper sales practices are not corrected.