Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Thirty-five cases of adverse reactions to Mounjaro reported in first month of availability

Thirty-five cases of adverse reactions or serious side effects were reported in Korea within the first month of the release of Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a weight loss drug developed by Eli Lilly.

2025-12-10

Korea leads East Asia in childhood obesity as experts urge earlier intervention

Childhood obesity has surged to alarming levels in Korea, which now has the highest rate among children and adolescents in East Asia.

2025-11-20

One in three adults in Korea are now obese

Obesity is no longer a minor concern in Korea. One in three adults is now obese, a new government survey showed on Monday, as lifestyle changes have fueled a steady rise in obesity over the past decade.

2025-11-10

KDCA survey raises concerns about nation's health, with male obesity reaching record high

Almost one in two Korean men in their 30s to 50s are now obese, the highest level ever recorded, raising concerns about the nation’s health. The KDCA also found that the prevalence of chronic diseases also climbed in both men and women last year.

2025-09-30

Wegovy prescriptions near 400,000 as experts concerned over widespread use, health risks

Prescriptions for popular weight-loss drug Wegovy have soared in Korea, reaching nearly 400,000 just eight months after its launch. But doctors and health officials warn of reckless use far beyond the drug's approved purpose.

2025-08-25

Eli Lilly's Mounjaro to land in Korea, setting off price war with Wegovy

Eli Lilly’s cut-price Mounjaro lands in Korea next week, ending Novo Nordisk’s domestic monopoly and igniting a price war in the weight loss drug market, while Wegovy will switch to tiered pricing in a global first.

2025-08-13

Hanmi seeks to gain on Wegovy with its own weight-loss drug

Hanmi Pharmaceutical is working on its own range of weight-loss treatments tailored to the Korean market.

2025-01-16

Korean ETFs chase heavy gains on weight-loss drugs

Mirae Asset, Samsung Asset and KB Asset all started trading healthcare exchange-traded funds, hoping to coast on Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

2024-02-29

LG Chem, Rhythm ink $305 million tech transfer deal for obesity treatment

LG Chem has inked a technology transfer deal worth up to $305 million with Boston’s Rhythm Pharmaceuticals for its oral obesity treatment candidate.

2024-01-05

Rising youth obesity in Korea poses public health crisis

Korea’s younger generation is getting heavier at an alarming rate, experts warn, urging for a shift in perspective to recognize obesity as a chronic disease with potentially lifelong implications.

2023-12-18