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On April 7, 2025, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced the designation of ALEPH-4, namely 1-(2,5-Dimethoxy-4-propan-2-ylsulfanylphenyl)propan-2-amine as Group 2 temporary narcotics, i.e., ‘Substances likely to result in physical or psychological harm or danger by causing dependence thereon’.
According to Article 5-2 of the Narcotics Control Act, temporary narcotics are prohibited from the following activities:
Cultivating, extracting, manufacturing, exporting or importing them, or carrying or possessing them for such purposes;
Trading, assisting in the trade thereof, giving or receiving, or providing them, or carrying or possessing them for such purposes;
Carrying, possessing, using, transporting, controlling, administering, or storing them;
Providing other persons with places, facilities, equipment, funds, or means of transportation for the prohibited acts related to Group 1 or Group 2 temporary narcotics.
Source: Korean Narcotics Control Act
The prohibitions will apply no more than three years since the effective date of the designation. For ALEPH-4, the prohibitions apply from 6 April 2025 to 31 March 2028. So far, the list includes a total of 107 types of temporary narcotics, and they are subject to a specific period of prohibition separately.
The whole list can be assessed here, providing the following information:
Reasons for designating temporary narcotics.
Names of temporary narcotics.
Classification: Group 1 temporary narcotics or Group 2 temporary narcotics.
Matters concerning the designation of temporary narcotics, such as a designation period.
