Safety alert issued for injectable drugs as incidents with obesity treatments surge

A consumer safety alert has been issued for injectable medications, with reports of incidents involving weight loss drugs increasing more than 19-fold last year.

The alert was issued by the Fair Trade Commission and Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) on Thursday amid a rise in safety reports.

A total of 1,147 reports involving injectable medications were filed with the KCA's Consumer Injury Surveillance System between January 2023 and April this year, with influenza shots accounting for the largest share at 314 cases, or 27.3 percent and obesity medications following at 210 cases, or 18.3 percent.

There were 462 reports in 2025, nearly double the 238 reports filed in 2024. The upward trend has continued this year, with 187 reports filed through April.

Reports related to obesity drugs increased particularly sharply. Only six cases were reported in 2024, but that figure jumped to 116 in 2025, more than 19 times higher than the previous year. Another 85 cases had already been reported through April this year.

Among the reports involving obesity drugs from 2023 to April this year, adverse effects linked to digestive and pain medication, including abdominal pain, were the most common, accounting for 124 cases, or 59 percent. Vomiting followed with 54 cases, or 25.7 percent, while dizziness, tinnitus and nausea accounted for eight cases, or 3.8 percent.

By age group, consumer safety incidents related to vaccinations were most common among infants under 7, young children between 8 and 12 and older adults aged 50 and older.

But among those aged 19 to 34 and those aged 35 to 49, obesity drugs accounted for the largest share of reported cases at 119 cases, or 43.1 percent, and 65 cases, or 32.3 percent, respectively.

Most obesity drug-related incidents occurred at home. Of the 210 reported cases, 156, or 74.3 percent, took place in residential settings.

"Vaccinations are administered by medical professionals at healthcare facilities equipped to respond to emergencies, whereas obesity drugs are often self-administered at home," a KCA official said. "Consumers should pay close attention to proper storage, dosage and the recommended duration of use for injectable medications."

BY AHN HYO-SEONG [[email protected]]