Marijuana smokers celebrate in front of a giant mock marijuana plant at a demonstration outside the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, in this April 1 photo. Korean travelers and residents in other countries were warned, on Monday by their government, not to smoke marijuana. AFP-Yonhap

The government has warned Korean travelers and residents in other countries not to smoke marijuana, saying those who ignore this message could face criminal charges when they return home.

In a warning issued on Monday, the Ministry of Justice said smoking marijuana will be treated as a serious offense and Korean smokers could face up to five years in prison as they are subject to the laws of Korea.

“There have been cases in which Korean citizens mistakenly believe that smoking marijuana is alright in countries where it has been legalized,” the ministry said in a statement. “Korean citizens, however, could face a heavy penalty under our domestic laws for using illicit drug in those countries after they return.”

Penalties would be more severe for the smuggling of such drugs with intent to distribute, as such people could face a minimum sentence of five years ― possibly life behind bars.

The ministry said it will begin a campaign to raise awareness about the legal risk next month by releasing new videos and posters to promote the warning message.

This comes as an increasing number of countries and territories around the world move to legalize or decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana.

Last month, Germany became the third EU member state to legalize recreational cannabis for personal use after Malta and Luxembourg. Legalization has been implemented to undermine the criminal trade of the drug and allow police forces to focus on more serious violent crimes, state German officials.

However, legalization has been met with challenging views in different territories. Thailand, which in 2022 became the first country in Asia to decriminalize the recreational use of marijuana, is now seeking to reverse the policy amid rising concerns over misuse and drug-related crime.