Illegal Seller Sent to Prosecutors for Mailing 'White Jade Injections'

South Korean prosecutors have received a case involving a pharmaceutical sales promoter accused of illegally selling prescription drugs valued at approximately 160 million won (about $130,000 USD). The individual, identified as 'A', is under investigation for violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act. The drugs in question include glutathione injections, commonly known as "white jade injections," which require a doctor's prescription.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) received a tip about the illegal sale of prescription drugs, including "white jade injections" and "Cinderella injections" used for cosmetic procedures, through online cafes frequented by women and nurses. The investigation revealed that 'A', who was entrusted with sales promotion duties by a pharmaceutical wholesaler, diverted over 100 types of prescription drugs from wholesalers and hospitals between April 2025 and April 2026. These drugs were then sold to 156 buyers for cash or bank transfer, totaling 160 million won in illegal sales conducted via parcel delivery or direct transactions.

Investigators found that 'A' placed orders with wholesalers for larger quantities than necessary for hospital deliveries, supplying only the required amount to hospitals and selling the rest to buyers. The buyers reportedly purchased these prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription for various purposes, including skin whitening and antioxidant treatments, as well as for alertness and fatigue recovery during exercise, often at lower costs. The MFDS highlighted that these drugs, approved for medical uses such as preventing neurological diseases and treating inner ear hearing loss, were being misused for cosmetic and other non-approved purposes.

The MFDS issued a warning about the serious side effects of misusing medications, which can include cardiac arrest, loss of consciousness, and shock due to respiratory distress, emphasizing the necessity of obtaining a doctor's prescription. Furthermore, the MFDS has requested the court to freeze 70 million won in criminal proceeds obtained by 'A' under the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds. The ministry pledged to continue its efforts to crack down on and severely punish illegal drug sales to protect public health and safety.

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In the future, we will do our best to protect the health and safety of the people by cracking down on and severely punishing illegal drug sales.