A South Korean has recently gained dispensation from the government to make an improved version of "Viva," a domestically-developed "antidote" to drug withdrawal symptoms. The Office of Patent Administration granted Lee Jae-hyung, the managing director of Viva & Revival, a patent for materials designed to curb the withdrawal symptoms of drug addiction. Developed in 1961 by Kim Jae-hun, a South Korean oriental medicine doctor Viva was initially prohibited from being sold domestically and was therefore exported from 1989 after clinical testing. Running a taekwondo gym in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Lee first heard of Viva in 1991 and later struck a deal with Kim's company to export the medicine to Malaysia and other neighboring countries. Lee subsequently learned from Kim how to make the medicine and conducted clinical tests in Malaysia, where such testing for drug addicts is allowed. In 1993, the Malaysian government allowed the sale of Viva but the success was short-lived as three years later Kim died and the company closed down. By applying for the patent for the improved version of Viva, Lee hopes to strengthen sales of the medicine in developing markets.