Eli Lilly Korea to roll out high-dose Mounjaro, sharpening obesity-drug rivalry with Novo Nordisk Eli Lilly Korea is launching higher-dose Mounjaro as competition with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy intensifies in the country’s booming obesity drug market. 2026.6.9
Snack makers suspected of illegally making, selling viral sweets referred to prosecutors Snack makers who allegedly made and sold "dujjonku" and other internet-viral sweets without proper business registration have been referred to prosecutors. 2026.6.1
Health inspectors to check Dubai chewy cookies, other baked goods for food safety The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will be putting the viral Dubai chewy cookies — as well as a number of other baked goods — under the microscope in an upcoming hygiene inspection. 2026.1.27
Tongue-shaped, tar-tinged: Ice cream dye sparks concerns among parents A chewy, tongue-shaped ice cream that has taken hold in Korean playgrounds and convenience stores is heightening anxieties among parents about synthetic food dyes, just as the government readies a review of the additives allowed in children’s snacks. 2025.12.5
Food Ministry finds more than 200 online posts illegally advertising 'height growth' products The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found 219 online posts illegally advertising or selling food and drug products with exaggerated claims such as “height growth” and “growth injection,” the ministry said on Wednesday. 2025.10.22
Minister vows to inspect 'maid cafes' after parliamentary grilling The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will inspect so-called maid cafes following growing concerns that they expose minors to sexually suggestive content. 2025.10.21
Antidrug agency used 'adjustment plan' to raise senior officials' salaries by 30%, audit finds A pay raise meant to stop employees from quitting a state-run antidrug agency only ended up fattening the paychecks of its senior officials instead — with top managers seeing their salaries jump by more than 30 percent. 2025.10.15
Five companies busted for falsely marketing quick-fix diet aids Five companies have been busted for falsely marketing ordinary foods online as quick-fix diet aids, touting them as everything from “edible Wegovy” to appetite suppressants and fat-burning cures. 2025.8.20
Food Ministry announces recall on tomato juice product for high lead levels The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Wednesday ordered a recall and sales suspension of a tomato juice product after detecting lead levels exceeding the legal limit. The juice product is sold under the name Sunshine Tomato Juice (translated). 2025.7.31
Food safety authorities antsy over use of ants as garnish at restaurant Authorities caught a restaurant in Korea using ants in its dishes without proper authorization, violating food safety regulations in using the insect as garnish to certain dishes. 2025.7.10
![An unregistered manufacturing site of Dubai-style chew cookies [MINISTRY OF FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12528125.jpg?imageId=12528125&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Dubai chewy cookies, prepared as thank-you gifts to blood donors, sit on display at a blood donation center in Busan on Jan. 23. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/11945386.jpg?imageId=11945386&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![The ″Tongue-shaped Ice Bar,″ imported from China was first introduced to Korea in September. [CHAE HYE-SEON]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12333853.jpg?imageId=12333853&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Minister of Food and Drug Safety Oh Yu-kyoung delivers a report during a National Assembly audit of the Health and Welfare Committee in western Seoul on Oct. 21. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12320555.jpg?imageId=12320555&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Minister of Food and Drug Safety Oh Yu-kyoung answers questions from lawmakers during a parliamentary audit by the Health and Welfare Committee at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Oct. 21. [LIM HYUN-DONG]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12217770.jpg?imageId=12217770&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![About 600 kilograms (1,323 pounds) of cocaine worth 300 billion won ($210.5 million) is displayed during a joint press briefing on the largest-ever drug smuggling case at Busan Port, held at the Busan District Prosecutors’ Office on Aug. 6. [NEWS1]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12392203.jpg?imageId=12392203&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's title is shown in this photo provided in 2023. [YONHAP]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12014662.jpg?imageId=12014662&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Tomatoes [JOONGANG SUNDAY]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12157809.jpg?imageId=12157809&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)
![Ants to be used as garnish are stored in a dish at a restaurant that was investigated by food safety authorities. [JOONGANG ILBO]](https://image.koreajoongangdaily.com/12326804.jpg?imageId=12326804&width=240&height=184&format=webp&format=jpg)