Decrease in Drug Offenders in South Korea Amid Youth Involvement

In 2024, South Korea recorded a total of 23,022 drug offenders, marking a 16.6% decrease from the peak of 27,611 in 2023. However, the proportion of offenders in their 20s and 30s has surpassed 60% for the first time, largely due to the spread of drugs through social media and clubs. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office released the '2024 Drug Crime White Paper' on June 15, highlighting this trend. The number of drug offenders had been on the rise since 2015, when it was recorded at 11,916, but saw a decline last year.

A representative from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office attributed the decrease to enhanced cooperation with customs to crack down on drug smuggling. They noted that consistent budget allocations have allowed for the acquisition of advanced monitoring equipment and the deployment of investigators abroad to gather intelligence on smuggling operations.

Last year, 13,996 individuals in their 20s and 30s were apprehended for drug-related offenses, accounting for 60.8% of all drug offenders, an increase from 54.5% in 2023. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated that there is a clear trend of younger individuals, particularly those under 30, becoming more involved in drug offenses, driven by the distribution of drugs via the internet, including social media and the dark web, as well as in nightlife venues.

In contrast, the number of drug offenders in their teens has decreased significantly, with 649 apprehended last year, a 56.1% drop from 1,477 in 2023, following increased enforcement and educational efforts after the 'Gangnam Academy Drug Beverage' incident. The number of foreign drug offenders also reached a record high of 3,232, influenced by the rising number of foreigners residing in South Korea due to the Korean Wave. Among these, 836 were Vietnamese, followed by 771 Chinese and 705 Thai nationals.

The total amount of drugs seized last year was 1,173.2 kg, a 17.6% increase from 998 kg in 2023. Of this, 746.7 kg was confirmed to have originated from abroad, with significant quantities coming from Thailand, the United States, Canada, Colombia, and Vietnam.

This white paper serves as a comprehensive compilation of drug crime statistics over the past 40 years, dating back to the first collection of data in 1985, and consolidates all information accumulated since the first publication of the white paper in 1990.