Korea's food and drug safety ministry warns methylphenidate is not a study drug

South Korea's food and drug safety ministry said it has released a promotional video with the education and gender equality ministries warning that methylphenidate, a prescription medicine for ADHD, is not a study aid, as it moved to block 1,733 illegal online sales and brokerage posts tied to the drug this year.

The campaign, posted on the three ministries' official YouTube channels, takes aim at the widespread mislabeling of methylphenidate as a "smart drug" or a concentration booster. Its central message is blunt: "There is no pill that makes you good at studying." The 1,733 listings were caught in two special inspections in May and August, and the ministry asked the Korea Communications Standards Commission and other bodies to block the sites.

Actors Seo Young-hee and Kim Tae-young appear in the video, walking parents and test-takers through misinformation they are likely to encounter and explaining that the drug is a treatment for a diagnosed condition rather than a route to better grades. The ministry said taking methylphenidate without a condition can cause headaches, anxiety and, in severe cases, hallucinations, and that buying it without a prescription through social media or taking pills obtained from someone else can lead to punishment under relevant laws.

"Methylphenidate is not a drug used to raise grades, but a medical narcotic used to treat disease," Food and Drug Safety Minister Oh Yu-kyoung said. "I hope this shorts video helps teenagers and parents make the right choice based on accurate information and helps teenagers move healthily toward their dreams."

The ministry said it monitors illegal online advertising and distribution of medical narcotics throughout the year and plans another special inspection in October ahead of the state college entrance exam.