"Doubling Drug Test Rate for Incoming Travelers... Improving Medical Prescriptions"

Comprehensive Government-wide Narcotics Control Plan Announced on the 22nd
"Completely Blocking Drugs from the Daily Lives of Future Generations"

Bang Gi-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, stated on the 22nd, “The government has prepared a budget of 60.2 billion KRW for next year’s narcotics response, which is 2.5 times the 23.8 billion KRW allocated this year,” and added, “We reiterate our commitment to fully combat the spread of narcotics.”

Director Bang announced this during a joint briefing with related ministries, unveiling the “Comprehensive Narcotics Management Plan.” This plan was released immediately after the 7th Narcotics Countermeasure Council meeting held on the same day.

Bang Gi-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination [Image source=Yonhap News]

Director Bang explained, “The government has made inter-ministerial efforts to address successive narcotics issues such as the Gangnam narcotic beverage incident and drug use allegations involving celebrities,” adding, “Despite the government’s full-scale response, public anxiety is spreading due to various narcotics incidents, so we have devised measures aiming to restore the country as a narcotics-free nation where citizens can feel safe.”

The plan consists of nine initiatives across three major areas: intensive crackdown on illegal narcotics, reform of the medical narcotics management system, and expansion of treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention infrastructure. Director Bang emphasized, “Since most of the narcotics seized domestically originate from smuggling overseas, it is crucial to block narcotics smuggling at the border stage,” and stated, “We will increase the inspection rate for inbound travelers to more than double.”

Additionally, Director Bang announced, “We will reform the medical narcotics management system,” and said, “To prevent misuse at the prescription stage by doctors, we will comprehensively improve the prescription system.” Prescription quantities and frequencies will be strictly limited, and if a patient is diagnosed with addiction, the licenses of problematic medical personnel will be revoked and reissuance will be strictly restricted.

Regarding treatment and rehabilitation infrastructure, he mentioned, “It is essential to provide appropriate treatment and rehabilitation to ensure a swift return to society as healthy members and to prevent relapse into narcotics crimes,” and added, “We will expand treatment hospitals regionally to facilitate smooth addiction treatment.” He also stated that health insurance coverage for addiction treatment will be pursued and treatment opportunities will be expanded.

Director Bang concluded, “The government will do its utmost to restore the status of a narcotics-free country and ensure that future generations of children do not encounter narcotics in their daily lives.”

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