Republic of Korea
The rank of drugs of use in Korea has remained stable over the past year with crystalline methamphetamine being the leading illicit drug of concern, followed by cannabis and other narcotics. Trends in use show a decline for both crystalline methamphetamine (mainly administered by injection) and cannabis in 2008 compared to two years of increasing use in 2006 and 2007.
Injecting of methamphetamine has been reported, but no estimates are available (Lancet, 2008).
Arrest, seizure and price data
During 2008, the number of drug-related arrests numbered 9,898, indicating a 7% decline from the previous year (10,649 arrests). Korean law enforcement officials speculate that this might be attributed to strengthened counter-narcotics enforcement, particularly in preventing illicit drugs manufactured overseas from entering the country (SPO, 2009).
The share of total drug-related arrests due to narcotics increased to 14.2% in 2008 from 9% reported for the corresponding period of the previous year mainly as a result of concentrated efforts against illegal opium poppy cultivation (SPO, 2009). The percent of arrests for psychotropic substances (including methamphetamine) and cannabis related violations accounted for 75.3% and 10.5%, respectively, a small decline from 80% and 11% in 2007.
According to recent patterns relating to methamphetamine seizures, Korean officials reported that more than 90% of seized methamphetamine was identified as coming from China (SPO, 2009). In 2007, 95% of total methamphetamine seizures were trafficked from China and the rest from South-East Asian countries, including the Philippines and Thailand. Since 2007, there has been a surge of methamphetamine departing from China by sea (Korean Customs, 2008)
The number of methamphetamine cases detected by Korean customs between 2006 and 2008* compared with figures from the period 2003 - 2005 showed a general increase. In contrast, the volume of seizures has remained stable or declined. This would suggest that traffickers may be seeking to reduce risk by lowering the trafficked volume with each attempt.
A new trend in 2008 indicates that the supply of methamphetamine entering Korea is diversifying. In 2008, 55% of methamphetamine seizures originated from China, 16% from Turkey, 14% from South Africa and 13% from Malaysia. The same trend applies to cannabis. South Africa, as well as, North America, Europe and South-East Asia have emerged as primary sources of supply for the Korean market (SPO, 2009). In 2008, the majority of cannabis resin (hashish) used in South Korea was mainly sourced from Thailand and Iran. A majority of ecstasy used has been identified as coming from North America and Europe (UNODC, 2008).
There are only sporadic seizures of cocaine in Korea, but an increase was noted in 2008. About 8.9 kg of cocaine were smuggled from Brazil by West African traffickers recruiting Japanese couriers to transport it into Japan or other international markets via Korea in 2008. Although, few narcotic drugs originate in Korea, a growing concern among Korean officials is that the country may become a more popular transshipment location for drug trafficking as well as a destination market.
There were reports of some large-scale diversions of dual use precursor chemicals destined for Afghanistan being traced back to Korea (INCSR, 2009). Some significant precursor seizures occurred in 2008 in Korea, the country being both a destination and a source country. In July 2008, 25 kg of pseudoephedrine originating from China were seized in Korea. In May, a large seizure of 356 kg of pseudoephedrine was made, destined for Australia (Exhibit 6). There have been attempts to traffic significant amounts of the heroin precursor, acetic anhydride, from Korea to Iran (21 tons) and Pakistan (62 tons) (Korean Customs, 2008).
Two cases of clandestine laboratory activity were detected in 2007. The first involved the manufacture of methamphetamine from ephedrine extracted from over-the counter cold medications. The finished product that was seized weighed 50 grams. The second involved a gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) manufacturing facility, disguised as a private business. Thirty-seven litres of finished GHB were seized (UNODC, 2009a).
