'Wegovy,' an obesity drug that is hugely popular but in shortages worldwide, will land in South Korea in mid-October.

It will become domestically available a year and a half after receiving approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). It marks the ninth release worldwide, following Japan and China.

The Wegovy effect has garnered attention from university hospitals and private clinical practices in light of the news. The industry is watching whether the Wegovy sales will match those of the obesity drug 'syndrome' in the mid-2010s when Saxenda (liraglutide) was released in South Korea.