In 2024, there were around ****** patients with drug addictions in South Korea. This represents a decrease compared to the previous year. About ** percent of patients that year were women.

The number of smokers in South Korea was forecast to continuously decrease between 2024 and 2029 by in total 0.5 million individuals (-5.37 percent). After the fifteenth consecutive decreasing year, the number of smokers is estimated to reach 8.79 million individuals and therefore a new minimum in 2029. Shown is the estimated share of the adult population (15 years or older) in a given region or country, that smoke. According to the WHO and World bank, smoking refers to the use of cigarettes, pipes or other types of tobacco, be it on a daily or non-daily basis.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of smokers in countries like China and Japan.

In 2024, there were ***** female patients in their twenties with drug addictions in South Korea. They represented the largest share of female patients, while the same age group was also the largest among male patients. Overall, there were more female than male patients that year.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around ** percent of respondents stated that they currently purchase drugs from friends or acquaintances. About ** percent buy their drugs via the internet.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around ** percent of respondents stated that their first-time drug purchase was from friends or acquaintances. About ** percent bought their first drugs via the internet.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around ** percent of respondents stated that they tried drugs for the first time out of curiosity. Another common reason was due to the recommendation of others.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, around *** percent of people reported experiencing drug addiction. This figure has fluctuated over the past three years.

"Cigarettes" and "E-cigarettes" are the top two answers among South Korean consumers in our survey on the subject of "Most used tobacco product".The survey was conducted online among 2,016 respondents in South Korea, in 2024.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around 38 percent of respondents stated that they had injected drugs. This included both intravenous and non-intravenous injections.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around ** percent of respondents stated that they were currently taking drugs because they had the urge or desire to do so. About one in ***** did so due to feeling depressed or experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

In 2023, about ****** drug offenders involving psychoactive drugs were recorded in South Korea. Psychoactive drugs have been the most commonly used drug in the country over the past five years, followed by cannabis.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around 54 percent of respondents stated that they mainly used amphetamines, including adderall. At about 40 percent, marijuana was another main drug commonly used in the country.

In 2024, the Korea Customs Service reported a total of *** drug smuggling cases. Over the past decades, the number of reported drug smuggling cases has increased significantly.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea between 2021 and 2022, around ** percent of respondents stated that they relapsed after seeking treatment for drug use. The largest share of these relapses occurred more than a year after getting clean.

In 2023, the number of arrests for drug-related offenses amounted to approximately **** thousand cases, skyrocketing from approximately *** thousand cases in the previous year, as well as recording the all-time high. Overall, drug-related arrest cases showed an increasing trend as the years passed.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in late 2022, only two percent of respondents considered themselves to be knowledgeable about different types of drugs and their characteristics. The largest share, at 49 percent, stated that they could name one or two drugs, but would not be able to give any details.

In 2023, less than six percent of 10,899 drug offenders in South Korea received treatment. People who struggle with drug addiction can voluntarily apply for, or be sentenced in court to attend, free addiction treatment in specialized facilities. In practice, however, few take advantage of this, with only 627 voluntary patients and 14 court-ordered patients that year.

In 2023, around 10.9 thousand drug offenses recorded in South Korea were for administering illegal drugs. This was followed by drug trafficking and illegally growing plants required for drug manufacture.

In 2022, around 61 percent of people charged with drug offenses related to narcotics in South Korea were 60 years or older. Psychotropic and cannabis offenses were most common among people in their twenties.

In 2023, about 32.8 percent of about 27,611 drug offenders in South Korea reoffended. The recidivism rate has remained relatively stable over the past five years.