Hospitals and pharmacies when you are sick

For minor problems like a cold or an upset stomach, start with a local clinic (uiwon) or a pharmacy. Clinics are organized by specialty, such as internal medicine, ENT or dermatology, and many accept walk-in patients. Large general hospitals often mean long waits and higher costs, so a neighborhood clinic is usually the easier choice unless your symptoms are serious.

Dial 119 for an ambulance or to report a fire. You can call from any mobile phone, and if Korean is difficult, the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline can join a three-way call with emergency services to interpret. If you are not sure where you are, read out a nearby building name, a road sign or the address shown in your map app.

Yes. Over-the-counter items such as painkillers, cold medicine, digestive aids, pain patches and ointments are sold without a prescription. Describe your symptoms or show them in a translation app, and the pharmacist will usually suggest something suitable. Prescription-only drugs, including antibiotics, require a doctor's prescription first.

A limited range, yes. Many 24-hour convenience stores sell designated 'safe household medicines', such as fever reducers, cold remedies, digestive aids and pain patches, usually with limits on how much you can buy at once. The selection is small, so if symptoms continue, visit a pharmacy or a clinic instead.

Many large university hospitals in Seoul and other big cities run international healthcare centers for foreign patients. You can also call the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline to ask about medical facilities in your language or get interpretation help, though it is not a medical advice line. Some neighborhood clinics manage basic English too, so keep a translation app ready.

Generally no. Short-term visitors are not eligible for Korea's national health insurance, so treatment is billed without insurance coverage. That is why buying travel insurance with overseas medical coverage before your trip is a good idea; confirm the details with your insurer. Keep every receipt and the itemized statement so you can file a claim later.

Go to an ER or call 119 right away for serious problems such as fainting, severe breathing trouble, chest pain, heavy bleeding or a broken bone. Using a large hospital's ER for minor issues can mean long waits and a much higher bill. Even at night, if symptoms are mild, look for a clinic or pharmacy that is still open first.

Search for 'pharmacy' (yakguk) in a map app to see which ones are open and their hours. There are public services listing pharmacies open on weekends and holidays, and closed pharmacies often post a notice pointing to a nearby one on duty. In a pinch, convenience stores carry basic household medicines.

Korea separates prescribing from dispensing, so the clinic gives you a prescription and you take it to a pharmacy to get the medicine. There is usually a pharmacy in the same building or right next door. Prescriptions are valid only for a limited time, so it is best to go straight to the pharmacy after your appointment.

Personal amounts are generally allowed, but some ingredients are classed as narcotics or psychotropic drugs in Korea and may be restricted. Keep prescription medicine in its original packaging and carry an English prescription or doctor's note. Rules can be specific, so check official Korea Customs and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety guidance before you fly.

Bring your passport, since clinics often ask foreign patients for ID at registration. A short note listing your current medicines, allergies and chronic conditions in English or Korean speeds things up. Most clinics take credit cards, and if you need documents for an insurance claim, ask for them when you pay.

You give your name and symptoms at the front desk, wait to be called, then see the doctor. Afterward you pay at the desk, collect your prescription and take it to a pharmacy. Many clinics stop taking patients during lunch or shortly before closing, so check opening hours in a map app before you go.

Dental clinics (chigwa) are easy to find in any city, and many will see walk-ins for a consultation. For severe pain or swelling at night or on a holiday, call a university hospital ER first to ask whether dental care is available. Dental treatment can be expensive, so check what your travel insurance covers.

Visit an internal medicine or ENT clinic for a fever and cough. Wearing a mask in the waiting room is considered polite. If breathing becomes difficult or a high fever will not come down, go to an ER or call 119. During outbreaks, procedures may change, so follow guidance from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Yes, often. The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline offers phone support in several languages and can help through a three-way call with hospital staff. International healthcare centers at larger hospitals may have medical interpreters on site. For simple exchanges, a translation app on your phone is often enough.

Public health centers exist in every city and district and handle vaccination programs, some infectious disease testing and other public health work. Services and eligibility vary from center to center, so check before visiting; for everyday illness, a private clinic is usually more practical. For infectious disease questions, contact a health center or the KDCA call center.

Insurers usually ask for the receipt, an itemized bill and a medical certificate or doctor's note. If you need them in English, request them at the front desk on the day of treatment; there may be a separate fee. Keep pharmacy receipts too, and check your insurer's document list before you visit.

A hanuiwon is a clinic practicing traditional Korean medicine, run by licensed Korean medicine doctors who use acupuncture, moxibustion and herbal remedies. Many people visit for muscle pain or sprains, and some clinics offer programs for foreign visitors. For acute illness or signs of infection, a regular clinic or hospital is the right choice.

Most hospitals and pharmacies accept international credit cards. You pay at the front desk or billing office after treatment, and large hospitals may also have self-payment kiosks. Carrying a little cash is wise in case a small clinic has trouble with a foreign card.

Pharmacy is yakguk. 'Meori-ga apayo' means I have a headache, 'bae-ga apayo' means my stomach hurts and 'yeol-i nayo' means I have a fever. If you have allergies, say 'allereugi isseoyo' and show the ingredient name. Showing a translation app screen works just as well if speaking is hard.