Posts misleadingly claim S.Korea drivers face jail for taking cold medicine
- Published on April 3, 2026 at 11:06
- 2 min read
- By Hawon Jung, AFP South Korea
Medical groups in South Korea have voiced concern over recent regulations against driving under the influence, saying the more stringent rules could inadvertently impact those on prescription medications. But online claims that drivers can be jailed simply for taking pills for a cold are inaccurate. While not illegal, motorists should generally exercise caution if they feel drowsy after taking over-the-counter drugs, experts say.
"You can become a convicted criminal after taking cold medicine and driving! Things change in April 2026!" reads the Korean-language title of a video shared on YouTube on March 19, 2026.
The narrator discusses new road safety rules that came into effect April 2, which impose stricter jail times and fines for those found driving under the influence of drugs.
Drivers who refuse to be tested by the police face the same penalties, according to the new rules.
The change follows a rise in drug use and related crimes in recent years, particularly in the capital Seoul's posh Gangnam district (archived link).
Local groups of psychiatrists and neurologists voiced concern over the impact of the regulations, saying some patients may avoid taking necessary drugs out of fear of the punishment (archived link).
Similar posts alleging drivers who take cold medicine or the popular painkiller Tylenol could be jailed surfaced on X, Instagram and multiple YouTube channels.
'Completely wrong'
However, South Korean police say the new set of rules largely targets those who drive under the influence of illegal or highly-controlled substances such as addictive drugs, marijuana, psychoactive drugs and hallucinogens.
It does not apply to ordinary medicines, the police clarified in a March 16 Q&A posted on a government-run blog (archived link).
"Only those who drove after taking such substances -- once we determine whether the person was incapable of properly driving (due to its influence) -- will face punishment."
The Korean Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) earlier issued a non-binding list of drugs, including antihistamines, to avoid before driving (archived link).
Antihistamines -- used in some cold medicines to treat sneezing or a runny nose -- can cause drowsiness for some people (archived link).
But Oh In-Seok, a pharmacist and vice head of the KPA told AFP on April 3 that side effects can vary. The claim that drivers can be jailed for taking these pills is "completely wrong".
Drivers should exercise caution if they feel drowsy, Oh said.
Ji Yun-hwan, a superintendent at the National Police Agency's traffic safety division, urged drivers to use "common-sense caution".
"What's most important is whether you're in a condition that allows you to drive safely," Ji said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency (archived link).
AFP previously debunked similar false claims about traffic law changes in South Korea.
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