🏥 Health, Pharmacies & Medical Care in South Korea

South Korea’s healthcare system is modern, efficient, and well-equipped. Whether you’re a traveler with a sudden cold or a resident managing regular check-ups, knowing how to find help and where to buy medicine makes everything smoother. This 2025 guide covers hospitals, pharmacies, insurance, and key emergency contacts.

 

⚕️ Healthcare Overview

South Korea offers world-class medical care, with facilities that combine advanced technology and attentive service. Most hospitals and clinics are clean, punctual, and often open six days a week (Monday–Saturday).

• Public healthcare is regulated under the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).
• Private clinics and hospitals exist in every district — and many are foreigner-friendly, especially in Seoul and Busan.
• Doctors and pharmacists often speak basic English, and major hospitals have international centers with interpreters.

 

 

🚨 Emergency Numbers

• Medical Emergency: 119 (ambulance or fire service)
• Police: 112
• Korea Travel Hotline (24/7, English/Chinese/Japanese): 1330
• Medical Assistance Hotline (24/7 interpretation): 1588-5644

Tip: For mild emergencies or late-night help, you can go to a 24-hour hospital (응급실, eung-geup-sil) or use apps like Naver Map to search “Emergency Room” (응급실) nearby.

 

 

🏥 Hospitals & Clinics

Korean hospitals are organized into three main levels:

• General Hospitals (종합병원) — large facilities with specialists, diagnostic imaging, and emergency rooms. Examples: Severance Hospital (Sinchon), Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center.
• Clinics (의원) — small local doctors for colds, allergies, minor injuries, or vaccinations. Usually open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Specialized Clinics — dermatology, dental, ENT, gynecology, etc. Walk-in is often possible.

Appointments are rarely required for local clinics — you just register at the front desk, wait your turn, and pay after the consultation. Most clinics issue prescriptions for pickup at a nearby pharmacy (약국).

 

💊 Pharmacies (약국)

Pharmacies are easy to spot thanks to the red “약” sign. They are usually open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed on Sundays, though 24-hour pharmacies exist in large cities.

What you can buy without a prescription:

• Cold & flu medicine (감기약)
• Pain relievers such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen
• Digestive medicine and probiotics
• Topical creams and basic skincare treatments
• Bandages and antiseptics

Prescription required for:

• Antibiotics
• Stronger painkillers
• Hormonal treatments or sleeping pills

Tip: If you’re not sure what to ask for, show the pharmacist a translated message using Papago or Google Translate. Korean pharmacists are generally patient and helpful.

 

 

💰 Costs & Insurance

Healthcare in Korea is relatively affordable compared to Western countries.

• Consultation fee: ₩10,000–₩30,000 (general clinic)
• Specialist or hospital visit: ₩40,000–₩80,000
• Emergency room: ₩100,000–₩200,000 (depends on treatment)
• Prescription medicines: ₩5,000–₩20,000 average

Insurance options

• Tourists: Travel insurance is highly recommended. Hospitals will give you a receipt for later reimbursement.
• Residents (students, employees, long-term visa holders): Enrollment in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) is mandatory after 6 months in Korea.

NHIS covers around 70% of medical costs and is automatically deducted from your monthly salary or billed quarterly for students/self-employed individuals.

 

 

 

📱 Useful Apps & Tools

• Naver Map — locate hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies (filter by “open now”).
• Papago — accurate medical translation app by Naver, excellent for describing symptoms.
• KakaoTalk — many clinics and pharmacies use it for appointment reminders or follow-ups.
• Emergency Ready App — official government app with alerts, evacuation info, and hospital locations.

 

 

🩺 Cultural Notes

• Doctors usually explain things concisely; if you need more details, ask politely to repeat or clarify.
• Prescriptions are printed and handed to you after your visit; bring them to the pharmacy next door.
• Payment is made first at the cashier desk before treatment or after consultation — most accept cards.
• Health check-ups (건강검진) are common and affordable; many companies or universities provide them annually.

 

 

🔗 Useful Contacts

• Korea Travel Hotline: 1330 (24/7, English/Chinese/Japanese support)
• National Health Insurance Service (NHIS): nhis.or.kr
• Ministry of Health & Welfare: mohw.go.kr
• Severance International Health Care Center (Seoul): ihc.yuhs.or.kr
• Asan Medical Center International Clinic: amc.seoul.kr

 

✨ Summary

South Korea’s healthcare system combines high quality with accessibility. Pharmacies are everywhere, hospitals are efficient, and English support is improving each year. Keep your passport or ARC handy, download Papago and Naver Map, and you’ll handle any medical need with ease.