[Aju News DB]
Viagra, the world's most commonly used drug for erectile dysfunction, topped the list of counterfeit goods smuggled into South Korea with its life expectancy being one of the highest in the world.
Data released by the Korea Customs Service this week showed the total value of 828 counterfeit products seized by customs authorities from 2013 to 2015 stood at 1.557 trillion won (12.9 billion US dollars).
Viagra was ranked first with 206.6 billion won, followed by Rolex watches at 162.9 billion won, Louis Vuitton bags at 144.5 billion won and Cialis, another erectile dysfunction drug, at 108.4 billion won. Over the same period, customs officials confiscated some 19.22 million fake Viagra pills.
Domestic pharmaceutical firms have rushed out prescription-only generic Viagra copies since a local court ruled in their favor and Pfizer's patent on Viagra active ingredient sildenafil expired in 2012.
In recent years, South Korea has seen steady growth in the market for approved erectile dysfunction tablets as well as the black market for counterfeit goods, reflecting its rapidly changing demographics.
South Korea's population has been ageing faster than any other developed nation with its life expectancy of 82 being one of the highest in the world.
아주경제 임장원 기자 = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
