"Before the Suneung, 'Selling Pills for Better Studying' Runs Rampant"

[Asia Economy Reporter Byun Seon-jin] "We sell pills that help you study well."

"These are supplements that improve memory for exam takers." (Online A Cafe)

One week before the College Scholastic Ability Test, illegal sales of food and pharmaceuticals that deceive parents and exam takers are rampant. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 10th that it had detected 297 cases of illegal and unfair advertising and sales on online sales sites and social networking services (SNS), and immediately requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission to block access and asked the relevant authorities for administrative action.

Most cases involved health functional foods being labeled with functions not recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, such as "memory supplements" or "insomnia and sleep improvement," or general foods being advertised as "sleep-inducing medicine," causing confusion with health functional foods or pharmaceuticals.

There are also cases where psychotropic drugs containing the ingredient 'methylphenidate,' used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), are sold as so-called "study-enhancing drugs." Psychotropic drugs are prescription medicines used for treatment under a doctor's supervision. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety emphasized that selling or advertising these drugs or purchasing them without a doctor's prescription is clearly illegal and subject to punishment.

The Ministry's Private Advertising Verification Team advised, "Exam takers should not rely on foods with unverified functionality or drugs that threaten health to maintain calm, but should consume nutrient-rich foods and maintain regular lifestyle habits." A Ministry official said, "We will continue to monitor false and exaggerated advertising of products closely related to people's lives and do our best to create an environment where the public can purchase related products with confidence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.