The neglect, delayed diagnosis and lingering aversion to child psychiatry frequently lead to long-term difficulties for patients. For many, treatment begins late and remains narrowly focused on medication.
For Kim, a 31-year-old Seoul resident who asked to remain anonymous, "the fear of running out of prescriptions" has become a constant part of daily life.
"For most Koreans, the most discreet way to keep ADHD hidden is medication," he said — a reliance that often deepens over time.
Against this backdrop, health authorities and researchers are moving to broaden treatment options to curb the overuse of stimulant drugs.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare this week revised its guidelines on the safety and effectiveness of new medical technologies, clearing the way for a digital therapeutics-based cognitive training program for pediatric ADHD.
Under the fast-track designation, specialists at designated medical institutions will be allowed to prescribe screen-based treatment from February 2026 through January 2029. The program will be available to children aged six to under 13 who have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Under a doctor's supervision, children will engage with an immersive, game-like platform designed to improve attention, working memory and impulse control. The treatment can be prescribed alongside oral medication, depending on symptom severity, and is being referred to by policymakers as a form of "digital medicine."
The policy shift comes as ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions continue to climb nationwide.
By age group, teenagers (10s) accounted for the largest share of ADHD patients in 2024, with 92,704 cases, or 35.61 percent of the total. They were followed by people in their 20s at 65,927 (25.32 percent), children under the age of 10 at 45,016 (17.29 percent), and those in their 30s at 40,679 (15.63 percent).
The number of adult ADHD patients also rose sharply. In 2024, 122,614 adults received treatment for ADHD, up from 25,297 in 2020 — an increase of 385 percent, or nearly 4.9 times. It marked the first time that the number of adults treated for ADHD exceeded 100,000 in a single year.
Annual prescription volumes have also risen steadily. Last year, methylphenidate prescriptions totaled 2.47 million cases, up 24 percent from 1.99 million in 2023.
By age group, teenagers recorded the highest number of prescriptions per 100,000 people at 2,305, followed by those in their 20s at 1,414, and children under 10 at 1,360.
Regional disparities are equally striking. Within Seoul, the so-called "Gangnam Three" districts — Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa — have ranked first through third in ADHD prescription volume since 2019. Affluent neighborhoods in southern Seoul known for intense academic competition, including Daechi-dong, Banpo-dong, Jamsil-dong and Irwon-dong, showed particularly high prescription rates relative to population, according to NHIS data.
Prescriptions also tend to spike ahead of major exams, including the college entrance test season.
Similar concerns resurfaced ahead of last month's 2026 college entrance exam, according to online parent communities. Advertisements for so-called "concentration-enhancing drinks" and "exam supplements" surged, targeting anxious students and parents. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it detected more than 750 violations during a 10-day inspection period in October.
According to the Korea Pharmaceutical Information Center (KPIC), ADHD is associated with deficiencies in neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which regulate attention and focus. Medications such as methylphenidate raise levels of both, while atomoxetine selectively increases norepinephrine.
KPIC said that inappropriate use of ADHD medication can lead to side effects ranging from headaches and anxiety to, in severe cases, hallucinations, delusions, or suicidal behavior.
"ADHD medications themselves are generally safe, and long-term use does not significantly increase the risk of misuse among diagnosed patients," said Lee Hae-kook, a psychiatrist at The Catholic University of Korea. "But when prescription rates rise sharply in specific regions or during specific seasons, it suggests some prescriptions may be driven by short-term attempts to boost concentration rather than clear medical necessity."
Lee added that digital therapeutics are unlikely to replace medication outright, but could play a complementary role.
"Some patients worry about how long they need to stay on medication or want to reduce their dosage," he said. "Using digital therapeutics consistently alongside medication may help shorten treatment duration or lower dosages in certain cases."
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