"Calls to Expand List" vs "Safety Not Guaranteed"... 13 Years of Ongoing Debate Over OTC Drugs at Convenience Stores

62% of Koreans Say "Restrictions on OTC Drug Selection Are Inconvenient"
Pharmaceutical Association: "Convenience Without Guaranteed Safety Cannot Exist"

More than half of Koreans believe that restrictions on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs sold at convenience stores infringe on their right to health. As a result, there are growing calls to improve the OTC drug system, such as by expanding the range of available products. However, concerns persist that expanding the list of drugs without ensuring safety would be unreasonable.

On the 28th, participants are speaking at the "Convenience Store Over-the-Counter Drug Policy Forum" held at the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Choi Taewon

At the 'Convenience Store Over-the-Counter Drug Policy Forum' held on the 28th at the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Han Jia, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out, "It has been 13 years since the OTC drug system was introduced, but only 11 types of general medicines are actually sold." She added, "Sales are also limited to convenience stores, making access difficult in rural and fishing communities."

An Hyeri, Secretary General of the Consumer Public Interest Network, who gave the keynote presentation at the forum, announced the results of a consumer perception survey conducted from August 18 to 25 among 1,087 consumers of OTC drugs. According to the survey, 62.2% of respondents said they were inconvenienced by the limited range of OTC drugs, and a majority-51.4%-perceived this as an infringement of their right to health. In particular, there was a strong opinion that pediatric OTC drugs should be expanded, with 22.3% of respondents citing "pediatric-only medicines" as the top priority for additional items. An stated, "The public is demanding a safe expansion of the OTC drug system," and suggested, "Regular reviews of the list of available drugs could be considered as a safeguard against misuse."

Some argued that concerns about side effects should be addressed by improving the system. They suggested that mandatory placement of educational materials in stores, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) consultation systems, and regular meetings to review the list of items could help ensure safe usage. Lee Juyeol, Professor of Health Administration at Namseoul University, said, "Public health centers, which are currently responsible for overseeing OTC drugs, do not have sufficient capacity. If the Korean Pharmaceutical Association and the authorities work together to establish a proper system, safety can be ensured."

Expert groups raised concerns about safety. They argued that instead of expanding the list of OTC drugs, efforts should focus on addressing shortcomings in the current system and expanding public late-night pharmacies. Over the past three years, more than 95% of stores selling OTC drugs have violated at least one regulation, leading them to believe that expanding the list cannot guarantee safety. Park Chunbae, Vice President of the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, emphasized, "Convenience without guaranteed safety cannot exist," adding, "When public health policy fails, it results in the loss of someone's health."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, marking the 13th year since the system's introduction, stated that it will review the list of available drugs and consider relaxing regulations in areas without pharmacies. Kang Junhyuk, Director of the Pharmaceutical Policy Division at the Ministry, said, "It is time to consider relaxing standards such as the requirement for 24-hour convenience stores," and added, "We need to discuss how to review the list of drugs from the public's perspective while preventing misuse."

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