Melatonin in South Korea: Import Rules, Brands and Pharmacies

Melatonin is not approved as a pharmaceutical in South Korea. Bring your full supply with a doctor's letter before you fly.

Quick reference

Drug class: Hormone / sleep aid
Controlled substance: No
Prescription required: Not applicable as a pharmaceutical, melatonin is not approved for sale in South Korea
Available locally: Not available as a licensed pharmaceutical product. Some health food supplements marketed as melatonin may appear in stores, but pharmaceutical-grade melatonin is not registered by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
Storage: Room temperature (below 25°C), away from light and moisture
Max supply to carry: Up to a 6-month personal supply permitted for personal use under Korean customs rules
Key document: Doctor's letter on clinic letterhead, translated Korean prescription optional but recommended
Emergency alternative: If you run out, consult a physician at a private clinic in Seoul; a local doctor may prescribe a short-term alternative sleep aid.

Travelling to South Korea with melatonin: what you need to know

Melatonin, sold internationally as Circadin and Slenyto in Europe and Melatobel in Japan, is not approved as a licensed pharmaceutical product in South Korea. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has not registered melatonin as a drug, meaning you cannot obtain it at a Korean pharmacy. Bring your complete supply from home.^[1]

Medical disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your prescribing doctor before travelling with medication, particularly regarding supply quantities, storage requirements, and import documentation.

Before you travel

Documentation for travelling to South Korea with melatonin

Korean customs permits travellers to bring personal-use medications including those not registered in South Korea, provided you carry a doctor's letter confirming the medical necessity. A personal supply of up to six months is allowed under Korean customs regulations for personal-use medications. Melatonin is not a controlled substance, so no import permit is required beyond a supporting letter from your prescriber.^[2]

Pre-travel paperwork timeline

T-30 days
Book an appointment with your prescribing doctor to obtain a doctor's letter confirming your use of melatonin and the quantity you are carrying.Prescriber letter
T-14 days
Request the letter on clinic letterhead with your full name, medication name (melatonin, generic name), dose, frequency, and the prescriber's signature and registration number. No import permit is required for melatonin entering South Korea.Clinic-stamped letter
No government processing time required. The letter is issued by your own doctor.
T-7 days
Optionally arrange a Korean translation of the letter if your trip is extended or you anticipate needing to show it to Korean customs or a local doctor. A certified translation service can produce this within 3 to 5 days.Translated letter
T-1 day
Print your doctor's letter and a copy of any original prescriptions. Pack melatonin in its original packaging with the pharmacy label visible. Do not decant into unlabelled pill organisers.
T-0 (border)
Keep your doctor's letter and original packaging accessible in your carry-on. Melatonin is not a controlled substance, so proactive declaration is not required, but have the letter ready if customs asks about unregistered medications.

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What your doctor's letter must include

Your full name, the medication name as melatonin (INN) and any brand name you use such as Circadin or Slenyto, your dose and frequency, the quantity you are carrying, the medical reason in one word such as insomnia, your doctor's signature and registration number, and the clinic's letterhead. A Korean translation is optional but useful for extended stays. Notarisation is not required for melatonin.

A Korean translation of your doctor's letter is not mandatory but simplifies any customs interaction. Notarisation or apostille are not required for personal-use medications like melatonin.

How much melatonin to bring

Korean customs allows a personal supply of up to six months for unregistered medications brought for personal use. Because melatonin is unavailable at Korean pharmacies, you cannot refill locally; bring your entire trip supply plus a 20% buffer for delays or itinerary changes. Travel insurance typically does not cover the cost of replacing a medication that is simply unavailable in-country rather than lost or stolen, so self-sufficiency is essential.^[2]

Split your supply

Carry your main supply in hand luggage and a backup in checked luggage. If one bag is lost or delayed, you still have medication. Keep both in original packaging with pharmacy labels attached.

Packing and storing melatonin for travel

Melatonin tablets and capsules should be stored at room temperature below 25°C, away from direct light and moisture. Seoul's summers can exceed 35°C, so avoid leaving medication in a hot car or direct sunlight. Keep tablets in their original blister packaging and store in a cool inner pocket of your cabin bag during transit.^[3]

At the airport and border

Airport security with melatonin

Melatonin tablets are solid-form medication and are not subject to liquid restrictions at security checkpoints. Keep them in your carry-on in their original packaging. You do not need to declare them proactively at X-ray, but having your doctor's letter accessible speeds up any secondary inspection. Security officers may ask you to remove medications from your bag for screening; original packaging with a pharmacy label makes this straightforward.

Customs and medication import rules for South Korea

Korea Customs Service rules allow travellers to import unregistered medications for personal use. Melatonin is not a controlled substance under the MFDS Pharmaceutical Affairs Act or any narcotics schedule, so no import permit is required. The permitted personal-use quantity is up to six months' supply. If a customs officer questions why you are carrying a medication not registered in Korea, present your doctor's letter and original packaging.^[2]^[4]

Keep original packaging

Because melatonin is not a registered pharmaceutical in South Korea, customs officers may be unfamiliar with it. Original packaging with the pharmacy label and your doctor's letter together remove any ambiguity. Do not transfer tablets into an unlabelled container before flying.

While in country

Melatonin availability in South Korea

Brands of melatonin sold in South Korea

Brand name	Indication	Formulation	Supply note
No licensed pharmaceutical brand	Not applicable	Not applicable	Melatonin is not registered by the MFDS as a pharmaceutical in South Korea. Health-food supplement products labelled as melatonin exist in some health stores but are not regulated as medicines and cannot be relied upon for dose accuracy.

The MFDS has not approved melatonin as a pharmaceutical product in South Korea, meaning licensed pharmacies do not stock melatonin in any formulation. Circadin, Slenyto, and Melatobel are not sold in South Korea. Some health food and supplement retailers in Seoul sell products labelled as containing melatonin, but these are unregulated supplements, not pharmaceutical-grade medications, and their dose accuracy cannot be verified.^[1]

Finding a doctor who can prescribe melatonin in South Korea

Because melatonin is not registered as a pharmaceutical in South Korea, Korean doctors cannot prescribe it. If you are experiencing a sleep-related issue during your stay, a psychiatrist or neurologist at a private clinic can assess you and prescribe a locally approved alternative.

Seoul has several international clinics with English-speaking staff, including at Severance Hospital and Samsung Medical Centre in Seoul. A private outpatient consultation costs approximately ₩30,000 to ₩80,000 (~$21 to ~$58 / ~€19 to ~€53).^[5] Refer to our Seoul health guide for more details on prescriber options.

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Storing melatonin while in South Korea

Melatonin tablets should be stored below 25°C, away from light and moisture, at room temperature. Seoul's summer months (June to August) bring temperatures regularly above 30°C and high humidity; keep your supply in an air-conditioned room and away from windowsills or car dashboards. Seoul's air quality is currently rated Good (AQI 25), so there are no specific environmental concerns for medication storage.^[3]

Emergencies

What to do if something goes wrong with your melatonin in South Korea

If your melatonin is lost or stolen, report the loss to local police (dial 112) and obtain a police report for your travel insurer. Contact your travel insurance emergency assistance line immediately, as they may be able to arrange a supply from abroad through a courier service or advise on the next steps.

If you run out of melatonin, local pharmacies cannot supply it. Visit a psychiatrist or neurologist at a private clinic, who can prescribe a locally licensed alternative. The MFDS registers temazepam and other hypnotics as prescription-only alternatives that a Korean doctor can lawfully prescribe to you. Always discuss your full medication history with the prescribing doctor before accepting a substitute.^[6]

“저는 멜라토닌이 필요합니다. (Jeoneun mellato-nin-i piryohamnida.) (I need melatonin. 저는 수면 장애가 있습니다. (Jeoneun sumyeon jangaega issseumnida.)) I have a sleep disorder. 의사를 불러 주세요. (Uisareul bulleo juseyo.) (Please call a doctor. 가장 가까운 약국이 어디입니까? (Gajang gakkaun yakgugi eodiimnikka?)) Where is the nearest pharmacy?”

I need melatonin. / I have a sleep disorder. / Please call a doctor. / Where is the nearest pharmacy?

For medical emergencies in South Korea, call 119 for ambulance and fire services, or 112 for police. Emergency departments at major hospitals such as Severance Hospital in Seoul have English-speaking staff available.

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Frequently asked questions

Is melatonin legal to bring into South Korea?

Melatonin is legal to bring into South Korea for personal use. It is not a controlled substance and no import permit is required. Korean customs allows up to a six-month personal supply; carry a doctor's letter and keep tablets in original packaging.

Do I need a doctor's letter to fly with melatonin to South Korea?

A doctor's letter is not legally required for melatonin, but it is strongly advisable because melatonin is not a registered pharmaceutical in South Korea. Korean customs officers may be unfamiliar with it; a letter on clinic letterhead explaining the medical need removes any ambiguity and protects you if questioned at the border.

Can I buy melatonin at a pharmacy in South Korea?

No. Melatonin is not registered as a pharmaceutical by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), so licensed pharmacies in South Korea do not stock it. Some supplement retailers sell products labelled as melatonin, but these are not pharmaceutical-grade and cannot be relied upon for accurate dosing. Bring your entire supply from home.

Is Circadin available in South Korea?

Circadin, the prolonged-release melatonin brand sold in several European countries and Australia, is not registered or available in South Korea. Slenyto and Melatobel are also not sold here. There is no equivalent licensed melatonin product in South Korean pharmacies.

What happens if I run out of melatonin while in South Korea?

Korean pharmacies cannot dispense melatonin. If you run out, consult a psychiatrist or neurologist at a private clinic in Seoul; they can prescribe a locally licensed sleep aid as a short-term alternative. Contact your travel insurer's emergency line, as some policies cover the cost of sourcing medication from abroad by courier.

Is melatonin OTC (over the counter) in South Korea like it is in the United States?

No. Unlike some countries where melatonin is sold over the counter as a supplement, South Korea has not approved melatonin as either an over-the-counter or prescription pharmaceutical. Korean pharmacies carry neither an OTC version nor a prescription equivalent. You must bring your own supply.