Escaping the Commonality of Median Age Range

Escaping the Commonality of Median Age Range

Height Enhancement in Korea: A Pandemic of Growth Hormone Injections

By Jung Sun-ean, Leader of the Parents team at the JoongAng Ilbo

In Korea, the race to reach new heights has taken an unexpected turn. The use of growth hormone (GH) injections for height enhancement among children, particularly those with idiopathic short stature (ISS), has seen a dramatic surge. Here's a breakdown of this alarming trend.

Rising Numbers, Uncovered Costs

The number of GH-treated individuals in South Korea skyrocketed from 12,500 in 2020 to 34,881 in 2023—that's a staggering 2.8-fold increase. What's more, a whopping 97% of these prescriptions don't have insurance coverage, pointing towards non-medical height enhancement purposes.

Fueling the Demand

The demand for GH injections is driven by several factors. First, these injections can deliver visible results—an average of 5 cm height gain over two years in ISS cases. Another key factor is the perceived safety of GH, thanks to minimal side effects.

Clinical Efficiency and Safety

Studies show GH therapy bolsters height velocity in ISS cases, with daily and weekly regimens (such as somatrogon) producing comparable results. GH is also known to reduce body fat percentage and increase lean mass, though long-term improvements in bone density remain uncertain. Adverse effects are rare and usually reversible upon discontinuation. However, the long-term safety data for non-deficiency populations are still limited.

Questionable Prescriptions and Ethical Dilemmas

Most prescriptions are off-label, targeting children without diagnosed GH deficiency. This raises ethical concerns about the medicalization of height variations that are deemed normative. major pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk are catering to this demand, resuming GH product shipments such as Norditropin.

Gaps in Research and Understanding

As the use of GH injections continues to escalate, questions about its long-term effects on bone health and psychosocial impacts remain unanswered. A 2025 study could not find any significant bone mineral density changes after a year of GH therapy in prepubertal ISS cases. Similarly, the current literature lacks robust analysis on self-esteem and societal pressures driving treatment decisions.

In conclusion, the surge in GH injections for growth enhancement reflects a society that values height, coupled with evolving medical practices. It's crucial to strike a balance between efficacy, safety, and ethical considerations as we navigate this complex and rapidly evolving landscape.

1. In an interview with The JoongAng Ilbo, Jung Sun-ean, the Leader of the Parents team, discusses the rising trend of growth hormone (GH) injections for height enhancement among children in Korea.
2. The number of GH-treated individuals in South Korea has surged from 12,500 in 2020 to 34,881 in 2023, with 97% of prescriptions not covered by insurance, suggesting non-medical purposes.
3. Fueling this demand are factors such as visible results, average height gains of 5 cm over two years for ISS cases, and the perceived safety of GH due to minimal side effects.
4. Clinical efficiency and safety studies show that GH therapy boosts height velocity in ISS cases, with different regimens producing comparable results. GH is also known to influence body composition, reducing body fat and increasing lean mass.
5. However, questions about long-term effects on bone health and psychosocial impacts remain unresolved, as does the dearth of robust analysis on self-esteem and societal pressures driving treatment decisions.
6. The majority of GH prescriptions are off-label, targeting children without diagnosed GH deficiency, raising ethical concerns about the medicalization of normative height variations.
7. Major pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk are catering to this demand, resuming GH product shipments such as Norditropin.
8. As the use of GH injections continues to escalate, striking a balance between efficacy, safety, and ethical considerations becomes increasingly important.
9. The rise in GH injections for growth enhancement highlights society's emphasis on height and the evolving nature of medical practices, underscoring the need for ongoing research and informed discussions on these issues in the fields of finance, politics, education, technology, health, economy, business, and society—particularly among Koreans who are closely following these developments in publications like health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and the JoongAng Ilbo.

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