Intermediates for synthetic cannabis have been identified during authorities' analysis of seized items, indicating that South Korea has moved beyond drug distribution and into the direct manufacturing of narcotics.

As South Korea, once considered a drug-free nation, faces the growing possibility of gaining the stigma of a drug-producing country, calls for stronger and more intensive responses are expected to escalate.

The National Forensic Service (NFS) under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced today (September 21) that it has newly detected two types of novel manufacturing intermediates generated during the synthetic cannabis production process and successfully identified their chemical structures.

Synthetic cannabis is an artificially synthesized substance designed to produce effects similar to the hallucinogenic components of natural cannabis.

It is typically used by smoking in plant mixtures or e-cigarette liquids.

The two substances were identified during the forensic examination and analysis of three liquid and paste-type items recently seized in illegal drug manufacturing and distribution cases.

The NFS named these substances, which are indazole-based synthetic cannabis analogs, "M-4en-PINAC" and "M-4en-PINAC 2-isomer," respectively, in accordance with international standard nomenclature systems.

These substances were confirmed to be either final products created through synthesis or manufacturing intermediates capable of producing synthetic cannabis currently trending in South Korea through subsequent reactions.

Because intermediates can be converted into narcotics through additional reactions, they serve as a key indicator for confirming illegal manufacturing.

They also fall under the category of narcotics according to the Narcotics Control Act.

The NFS emphasized that this case demonstrates how synthetic cannabis, which previously entered the country mainly in the form of finished products from overseas, has been directly synthesized and manufactured domestically, suggesting that domestic drug crimes are expanding beyond mere distribution into direct manufacturing.

It further warned that these novel substances lack specific dosage and toxicity information, making it difficult for users to gauge their own intake, which carries a high risk of secondary crimes or severe poisoning accidents.

The NFS explained that this research is highly significant as it established scientific grounds to prove the illegal manufacturing of narcotics in South Korea by confirming the chemical structures of substances detected in seized items and clearly identifying them as synthetic cannabis manufacturing intermediates.

The NFS plans to share precise analysis information, such as the structures and mass spectra of these substances, with relevant agencies including the Korean National Police Agency and the Korea Customs Service to actively support criminal investigations and the establishment of institutional regulations.

Lee Bong-woo, head of the National Forensic Service, stated, "This achievement goes beyond simply analyzing new types of narcotics; it demonstrates the NFS's high forensic capability to interpret manufacturing processes and trace synthesis-related intermediates."

He added, "Even if new raw materials or semi-finished narcotics flow in, we will continue to rapidly identify their structures and share information with relevant agencies to proactively block the manufacturing and distribution of narcotics and do our utmost to create a safe society for the public."

About a decade ago, South Korea maintained its status as a drug-free nation designated by the United Nations (UN).

The UN defines a drug-free nation as one with fewer than 20 drug offenders per 100,000 residents.

South Korea lost this status when the figure rose to 23.1 in 2015, and the number surged significantly to 44.7 in 2024.

Drug offenders have also increased every year, rising by more than 7,000 over four years from 16,153 in 2021 to 23,403 in 2025.

(Photo courtesy of the National Intelligence Service, Yonhap News)