Recent reports indicate that South Korea has added Japan's widely sold "EVE painkillers" to its controlled substances list, effective April 2025. The move is due to the product containing the sedative ingredient "allylisopropylacetylurea," which is classified as a controlled narcotic under South Korean law.
A South Korean netizen shared their experience on social media, recounting how customs officers confiscated EVE painkillers purchased from Japan's popular Don Quijote stores upon entry into South Korea. The traveler was required to fill out a report and had a violation record created. "They told me it contains psychoactive substances classified as narcotics, so I had to write a report and discard it, leaving me with a violation record," the post read.
South Korea's Customs Service stated that cases of travelers bringing in medications containing prohibited substances have been increasing in recent years. In response, starting this month, EVE painkillers have been officially included on the list of banned substances.
Under South Korea's current narcotics control laws, allylisopropylacetylurea is classified as one of 481 controlled narcotic substances. The ingredient affects the central nervous system and poses a high risk of dependency and addiction.
EVE painkillers are a series of medications introduced in 1985 by Japan's SS Pharmaceutical. Known for their effectiveness in treating menstrual pain and other symptoms, the product has become a must-buy item for many tourists visiting Japan, especially women. Currently, five variants of EVE painkillers are available on the market, making them one of the top-selling products in Japanese stores.
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