The government has finalised its narcotics control implementation plan for this year and will pursue a response that combines crime enforcement with rehabilitation for addicts. It will strengthen international cooperation and introduce AI-based detection technology. It will also expand prevention and treatment systems in response to spread centred on young people.

The government held the first 2026 meeting of the Narcotics Countermeasures Consultative Council on Feb. 13, chaired by Yun Chang-ryeol (윤창렬), head of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and approved the "2026 narcotics control implementation plan". The plan is an annual programme to carry out the first (2025 to 2029) basic plan for narcotics control. Under four strategies — strict response to narcotics crime, support for addicts' return to daily life, stronger prevention foundations, and tailored management of vulnerable groups — it will 추진 90 tasks.

◆ Whole-of-government joint crackdowns... stronger publicity campaigns

In the crime response area, the government will respond to narcotics crime that is becoming more international and sophisticated, and strengthen accountability for managing misuse of medical narcotics. It will conduct twice-yearly whole-of-government joint crackdowns in vulnerable areas such as airports, ports and entertainment facilities. It will form special inspection teams at major airports and ports and run a dedicated investigative system to block online distribution.

It will upgrade investigative techniques through R&D on detection technologies such as AI-based CCTV video surveillance and electronic noses. It will gradually expand the substances that allow doctors to check patients' past medication histories. Using big data from the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS), it will identify institutions with duplicate or excessive prescribing, then conduct on-site inspections with investigative authorities.

In the area of support for addicts, the government will strengthen an end-to-end management system from counselling to social reintegration. It will introduce non-face-to-face text counselling in addition to 24-hour telephone counselling (1342). It will pilot-apply "Korean-style standard clinical guidelines" to provide tailored treatment by addiction level and drug type, and expand training of narcotics treatment and rehabilitation experts.

In prevention, it will run publicity campaigns to raise public awareness of narcotics. It will 추진 a long-term campaign using various media and produce education content tailored to students' developmental stages. It will also strengthen tailored management for vulnerable high-risk groups such as teenagers, foreigners and soldiers.

◆ International cooperation, nationwide expansion of secondary postal inspections

The meeting also discussed measures to respond to international narcotics crime. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office will run an international cooperation team centred on a joint investigation headquarters and expand real-time cooperation with overseas agencies. The National Police Agency, Korea Customs Service and Korea Coast Guard will also pursue Interpol cooperation, joint crackdowns with customs authorities in departure countries, and diversification of information channels on the Golden Triangle region.

It will also expand secondary inspections of narcotics in international mail nationwide. The pilot project currently being conducted in eastern Seoul will be extended to the Busan Mail Center and the Central Region Integrated Mail Logistics Center. The government plans to redesign its logistics network so that all international mail passes through major regions.

Yun said, "As drug offenders aged 30 and under account for 60 percent and new drugs continue to evolve, I hope frontline investigative agencies will cooperate swiftly through information sharing and joint crackdowns, and respond strictly."