Councilor Lee Myung-no: "Poor Management of Safety Over-the-Counter Drugs in Convenience Stores"

"Gwangju City, Unable to Even Grasp the Current Situation, Threatening Citizen Safety"

Lee Myung-no, Gwangju City Council Member

Concerns have been raised that over-the-counter emergency medicines sold at convenience stores in the Gwangju area are threatening consumer safety due to insufficient professional knowledge, poor management, and 24-hour operation.

On the 4th, Lee Myung-no, a member of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party, Seo-gu 3), during an administrative audit of the Gwangju Welfare and Health Bureau, pointed out, “Although sellers of over-the-counter emergency medicines are required to complete education provided by the Pharmacists Association, Gwangju City has failed to properly identify this,” adding, “The over-the-counter emergency medicines introduced for the convenience of citizens are instead threatening them.”

Among the 1,443 convenience stores in Gwangju, 1,282 are registered as sellers of over-the-counter emergency medicines, but the number of stores operating 24 hours has not been identified. Furthermore, it has been revealed that regular education, management, and supervision of sellers of these medicines are not being conducted.

In fact, as a result of an investigation conducted by Councilor Lee targeting convenience stores near Gwangju City Hall, some stores informed that although over-the-counter emergency medicines should be sold in single packaging units per purchase, it is possible to buy two units if each is paid for separately.

Medicines distributed in Gwangju are not being properly tracked, and especially education and information on side effects for sellers are not being provided at all. As a result, consumers misunderstand incorrect information and engage in self-diagnosis and arbitrary medication, posing a constant risk of inappropriate drug use.

Councilor Lee emphasized, “Over-the-counter emergency medicines are being indiscriminately sold at convenience stores in the Gwangju area,” and stressed, “It is necessary to promptly identify the sales procedures, education, and side effect information provision status at 24-hour convenience stores to protect citizens, and to improve the management status of medicines by strengthening seller education along with strict management and compliance with regulations regarding sales.”