Seeing a Doctor & Using Pharmacies in Korea (2026): A Foreigner's Guide

A Foreigner's Guide to Using Hospitals and Pharmacies in Korea (Treatment / Emergencies / Pharmacies)

Healthcare in Korea is easy to access and treatment is usually fast. This guide explains where to go and what to do when you actually get sick — for how to enroll in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), Korea's public health insurance system, see the separate health insurance guide.

Quick answer: In Korea, go to a neighborhood clinic (called an uiwon) for minor issues like a cold, a hospital for admissions or specialist care, and the emergency room (ER) only for life-threatening situations. Bring your Alien Registration Card (ARC) or passport plus your health insurance details. If you're enrolled in Korea's National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), you pay only a small out-of-pocket share. Prescription medicine is filled at a pharmacy, while a limited set of basic medicines (fever reducers, painkillers, cold medicine) can be bought at convenience stores. In an emergency, call 119 for an ambulance.

Seeing a Doctor & Using Pharmacies in Korea: Where to Go

	Clinic (의원)	Hospital (병원 / 종합병원)	Emergency Room (응급실)
When to go	Mild or common symptoms first (cold, sore throat, minor injury, etc.)	Hospitalization, detailed tests, or specialist care; a referral letter from a clinic can make the process smoother in some cases	Life-threatening emergencies only — ER costs are higher than regular visits
What it's for	Primary / outpatient care. Specialty is shown on the sign (e.g., internal medicine, ENT, orthopedics)	Secondary / tertiary care — inpatient stays, advanced diagnostics, specialist consultations	Acute emergency treatment
What to bring	Alien Registration Card (ARC) or passport + National Health Insurance (NHIS) information. Without insurance, you may be charged the full fee.
After the visit	Pay at the cashier (co-pay only if NHIS applies). If prescribed medication, take the prescription to a nearby pharmacy (약국).

Pharmacies & Over-the-Counter Medicines

• Pharmacy (약국): Prescription medicines must be dispensed at a pharmacy. They also sell a range of over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
• Convenience stores: A limited set of approved non-prescription items (e.g., certain fever reducers, pain relievers, cold medicines) may be purchased at convenience stores.

⚠️ Emergency & Help Numbers

• 119 — Emergency medical services (ambulance) & fire
• 112 — Police
• 1339 — KDCA Health & Infectious Disease Consultation Hotline — available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (toll-free in Korea; from overseas: +82-2-2633-1339). The line operates primarily in Korean; for English or other foreign-language medical advice, operators can connect you with the 1330 tourism helpline or refer you to the 1345 Immigration Contact Center (English available 09:00–18:00).
• 1330 — Korea Tourism Organization Travel Helpline — Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese: 24 hours; Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay: 08:00–19:00. Dial +82-2-1330 from overseas. Also reachable via KakaoTalk, Line, and Facebook Messenger. Can relay to 119, 1339, or 1345 as needed.
• 1345 — Immigration Contact Center (Ministry of Justice) — multilingual support including English 09:00–18:00; useful for residency-related questions when seeking healthcare.

If you need medical advice in a foreign language, calling 1330 first is often the easiest route — staff can bridge to 1339 on your behalf.

Note: Co-pay amounts vary significantly depending on your insurance status and visa type. For accurate costs and coverage, check with NHIS and the relevant medical facility. This block is informational only, not medical advice — if symptoms are serious, contact a medical provider or call 119 immediately.

Sources: KDCA 1339 Call Center, KTO 1330 Travel Helpline — service details as of 2026; confirm current hours.

Clinic vs. Hospital vs. Emergency Room — Where Should I Go?

Go to a clinic (uiwon) for minor issues, a hospital for admissions or specialist care, and the emergency room only for life-threatening situations.

• Clinic (uiwon, a small neighborhood clinic): A local clinic that provides primary care. For a cold or mild symptoms, go to a clinic first. The specialties it covers (internal medicine, ENT, orthopedics, etc.) are listed on its signboard.
• Hospital / General hospital: These handle admissions, detailed examinations, and specialist care. For a large general or tertiary general hospital, you generally need a referral letter from a clinic or smaller hospital to have NHIS cover your visit — without one you may have to pay the full cost yourself (emergencies, childbirth, and certain conditions are exceptions).
• Emergency Room (ER): Go here when life is at risk. ER treatment costs more than regular outpatient care.

How Does a Doctor Visit Work in Korea?

A typical visit is simple: register with your ID and insurance, get treated, pay your share, then fill any prescription at a pharmacy.

• At the reception desk, show your Alien Registration Card (ARC — the ID card issued to registered foreign residents) or passport, along with your health insurance information.
• When treatment is finished, pay the cost. If health insurance applies, you pay only your out-of-pocket portion.
• If you receive a prescription, fill it at a nearby pharmacy.

Where Do I Get Medicine — Pharmacy or Convenience Store?

Prescription drugs come only from a pharmacy, while convenience stores sell only a small, government-designated set of basic OTC medicines.

• Pharmacy: Prescription drugs can only be dispensed at a pharmacy. Pharmacies also sell over-the-counter (OTC) drugs you can buy without a prescription.
• Convenience-store safety medicines (government-designated): Convenience stores carry only a small, government-designated set of safe OTC items — things like fever reducers, painkillers, and cold medicine.

Which Emergency Number Do I Call?

For a medical emergency or ambulance, call 119.

• 119 — Call for medical emergencies, ambulances, and fire (like 911 in the US).
• 112: Police.
• 1339: The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's public health consultation line for illness, infectious diseases, and similar concerns. It operates 24 hours a day, year-round (toll-free in Korea; from overseas: +82-2-2633-1339). The line operates primarily in Korean — for English assistance, see 1330 below.
• 1330: The Korea Tourism Organization Travel Helpline, available 24 hours a day in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese; Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Malay from 08:00 to 19:00. Also reachable via KakaoTalk, Line, and Facebook Messenger. Staff can interpret by phone and relay to 119 or 1339 as needed.
• 1345: The Immigration Contact Center (Ministry of Justice). Multilingual support including English (09:00–18:00). Useful when your question involves residency status or insurance eligibility.

How Much Will It Cost?

Your cost depends mainly on whether you have NHIS enrollment.

Your out-of-pocket cost varies widely depending on whether you are enrolled in health insurance and on your residency status (visa type). If you are not enrolled, you may have to pay the full treatment cost yourself. As a rough sense of scale: a clinic visit for a cold with NHIS typically costs around ₩5,000–₩15,000 out of pocket; without NHIS, uninsured patients pay the full fee with no subsidy, and at major international-grade hospitals the bill may be 2–3 times the standard Korean rate. Non-covered items (treatments and procedures health insurance doesn't pay for), as well as ER visits, can be expensive — so confirm exact costs and the scope of coverage directly with the NHIS and the relevant medical institution. (This article is not medical advice; if your symptoms are severe, go to a medical institution or call 119 immediately.)

English-Speaking Hospitals & International Clinics

Korea's major hospitals operate dedicated International Healthcare Centers (IHC) with English-speaking staff, bilingual medical records, and international billing coordination. For routine care, several clinics — especially in Itaewon, Gangnam, and Hongdae — cater specifically to foreign residents.

• Major hospitals with IHCs: Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital (Yonsei), Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and Seoul National University Hospital all run international patient centers staffed with English (and often additional language) support. These centers handle appointments, billing, and translation. Book in advance — walk-ins are accepted for emergencies but waiting times can be long.
• Neighborhood English-friendly clinics: In popular expat areas, many neighborhood clinics have at least one English-speaking doctor. Check Korea Health Pages or the Seoul Global Center (sgc.seoul.go.kr) for reviewed listings.
• Appointment apps: Naver Map and Kakao Map let you search for clinics with English tags and read reviews. The Korean-language app 똑닥 (Ddocdoc) is widely used for real-time clinic queue registration and appointment booking — the interface is in Korean, but many clinics listed on it do see foreign patients.

Source: Asan Medical Center IHC, Samsung Medical Center IHC — as of 2026.

Dentists & Eye Clinics

Both dental and vision care are available at neighborhood clinics and do not require a referral.

• Dental (치과): NHIS covers basic dental procedures — extractions, fillings, root canals, and periodontal treatment — with the patient paying roughly 30–50% out of pocket. Cosmetic work (implants for non-medical reasons, orthodontics) is generally not covered and is paid in full. Dental costs in Korea remain significantly lower than in many Western countries even without coverage.
• Eye clinic (안과): NHIS covers medically necessary eye treatment (e.g., infections, injuries). Eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions receive very limited or no NHIS subsidy for adults. Routine check-ups and glasses are typically paid out of pocket.
• When visiting either type of clinic, show your ARC and NHIS card and ask: "Is this treatment covered by NHIS (건강보험 적용이 됩니까)?" — staff will confirm your co-pay share before treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to see a specialist?
For a large general or tertiary general hospital, you generally need a referral letter from a clinic or smaller hospital for NHIS to cover your visit. Emergencies, childbirth, and certain conditions are exceptions.

Can foreigners use Korean emergency services?
Yes — anyone can call 119 for an ambulance or medical emergency. For language help, the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline offers free 24-hour multilingual support (English, Japanese, Chinese) and can interpret by phone.

Can I buy prescription drugs at a convenience store?
No — prescription drugs can only be dispensed at a pharmacy. Convenience stores carry only a small, government-designated set of basic OTC medicines such as fever reducers, painkillers, and cold medicine.

Does 1339 have English support?
The 1339 line operates 24/7 primarily in Korean. For English-language medical guidance, call 1330 first — staff are available in English around the clock and can connect you to 1339 in a three-way call. The 1345 Immigration Contact Center also offers English from 09:00 to 18:00.

Glossary of Korea-Specific Terms

Term	What it means
National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)	Korea's public health insurance system. Enrollees pay only part of their hospital and pharmacy costs. (For who can enroll and how, see the separate health insurance guide.)
Out-of-pocket cost	The portion of treatment costs the patient pays directly, after health insurance is applied.
Non-covered item	A treatment, examination, or procedure health insurance does not cover, so the patient pays the full amount.
Clinic (uiwon)	A small neighborhood clinic providing primary care.
General hospital	A large hospital with multiple departments and facilities for admission and detailed examinations.
International Healthcare Center (IHC)	A dedicated department at major Korean hospitals for international patients, with English-speaking staff, translation services, and international billing support.
Referral letter	An introduction document a clinic or smaller hospital issues when sending a patient to a larger hospital. For a large general or tertiary general hospital, it is generally required for NHIS to cover the visit — without it the patient may pay the full cost.
Alien Registration Card (ARC)	The ID card issued to registered foreign residents, used to verify identity in procedures such as hospital reception.
Over-the-counter drug (OTC)	Medicine you can buy at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription.
Convenience-store safety medicines (government-designated)	A small, government-designated set of items that can be bought at convenience stores without a pharmacist (fever reducers, painkillers, cold medicine, etc.).
119	Call for medical emergencies, ambulances, and fire (like 911 in the US).
112	The number for reporting to the police.
1339	The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's public health and infectious-disease consultation line, operating 24 hours a day, year-round. Primarily Korean-language; refer to 1330 for English.
1330	Korea Tourism Organization Travel Helpline. English, Japanese, Chinese: 24 hours; Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay: 08:00–19:00. Can relay to 119 or 1339.
1345	Immigration Contact Center (Ministry of Justice). Multilingual support including English, 09:00–18:00.