Treatment costs and the number of patients for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Korea have surged sharply in recent years.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) on Wednesday, ADHD treatment costs in Korea totaled 190.9 billion won ($140 million) last year. This marks a 314% increase from 46.1 billion won in 2020. Over the same period, the number of ADHD patients rose 3.3-fold from 79,248 to 260,251.
By age group, teenagers accounted for the largest share in 2024 at 94,233, followed by those in their 20s at 68,816 and children aged 9 or younger at 56,048.
ADHD is one of the most common conditions in pediatric psychiatry. It is characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, and typically develops in childhood before the age of 7.
According to Asan Medical Center and other sources, the global prevalence of ADHD among school-age children and adolescents is approximately 3% to 8%. In Korea, about 5% of elementary school students are known to experience these symptoms.
