Adverse Event Reports of Growth Hormone Injections Rise in Korea

Reports of adverse events following growth hormone injections in children approached 2,000 in Korea last year, according to data cited by a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker. The number of reports increased from 1,189 in 2021 to 1,910 in 2025. This rise coincides with increased use of somatropin, a growth hormone product, whose prescriptions rose from 895,000 in 2020 to 1.62 million in 2024. The total value of these prescriptions exceeded 150 billion won.

The increase in adverse event reports is prompting the Democratic Party of Korea to call for strengthened monitoring and regulation of drug safety and medical products in Korea. The figures do not establish that the growth hormone injections caused the reported conditions, but the rise is under scrutiny.