Korea’s Darkest Hour: Teenage Drug Addiction Skyrockets by 300% in Just One Year

Alarming Rise in Teenage Drug Offenders in Korea

The number of young drug offenders in Korea has nearly tripled in just one year, sparking concerns about the country’s future.

According to data released by the National Police Agency, the number of teenagers arrested for drug-related crimes increased from 294 in 2022 to 1,066 in 2023, a staggering 3.6-fold increase.

The data also shows that the number of 20-year-olds arrested for drug-related crimes increased from 4,203 to 5,689, a 1.4-fold increase, while the number of 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds arrested also increased by 1.3-fold.

The number of adolescent drug offenders arrested in 2015 was 94, but this number increased 11.3-fold in just eight years, highlighting the growing concern of teenage addiction.

This trend is particularly alarming, as the number of drug offenders arrested under the age of 20 showed the second-largest increase during the same period, with a 5.87-fold increase.

Furthermore, the data reveals that more than 10 public employees are arrested every year for drug-related crimes, with the number doubling from 10 in 2015 to 19 in 2023.

The amount of drugs seized has also increased rapidly, more than doubling from 160 kg in 2015 to 357 kg in 2023, with Philopon increasing approximately 10-fold from 8 kg in 2015 to 78 kg in 2023.

Congressman Yoon Geon-young emphasized the need for a rigorous drug response system, stating, “As the age group gets younger, treatment is crucial, so we need a robust system from arrest to treatment.”