🏥Hospitals & Clinics
Korea has world-class healthcare infrastructure. Major university hospitals (서울대병원, 연세세브란스, 삼성서울병원) all have International Patient Centers.
For non-emergency care, visit a local clinic (의원). These are much cheaper and faster than hospitals.
Finding English-speaking doctors: Use the GoodDoc app or search "외국인 병원" on Naver Maps. Most doctors in major cities have basic English skills.
🚨Emergency Room (응급실)
For serious emergencies, go directly to the nearest hospital emergency room. Call 119 for ambulance.
Emergency rooms are open 24/7. Even without insurance, you will receive treatment and can pay later.
Key emergency numbers: • 119 — Fire & Ambulance • 112 — Police • 1330 — Tourist Helpline (English/Chinese/Japanese)
💊Pharmacies (약국)
Korean pharmacies (약국) are everywhere — usually open 9am–9pm. Pharmacists can recommend basic medications without a prescription.
For prescription medications, you need a doctor's prescription (처방전).
Most pharmacies stock standard OTC medications. If you need specific foreign medicine, check major pharmacies in Itaewon or international hospital pharmacies.
🏨National Health Insurance (NHIS)
Korea's National Health Insurance (국민건강보험 / NHIS) provides comprehensive coverage and is mandatory for most foreigners staying 6+ months.
What it covers: • 50–80% of most outpatient visits • Hospital stays (60–70%) • Surgery and procedures • Prescription medications (variable)
What's not fully covered: • Dental (limited) • Optometry • Cosmetic procedures • Certain advanced tests
Monthly premium: ₩130,000–₩180,000 for community insured. Employed foreigners split cost with employer.
Enroll at your local NHIS office or online at nhis.or.kr. NHIS English hotline: 1577-1000.
🦷Dental Care
Dental care in Korea is affordable compared to Western countries. Basic NHIS covers some dental procedures (extractions, fillings, scaling once/year).
For major dental work, expect to pay out-of-pocket or get supplemental insurance.
Dental clinics (치과) are abundant in all cities. English-speaking dental clinics are common in Seoul's Gangnam, Itaewon, and Hongdae areas.
Average dental costs: • Scaling (청소): ₩20,000–40,000 (covered by NHIS once/year) • Cavity filling: ₩30,000–80,000 • Dental implant: ₩1,000,000–1,500,000
🧠Mental Health
Mental health services in Korea are improving. English-speaking therapists and counselors are available in major cities.
Resources: • Korea Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 1577-0199 (24/7) • Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1393 (24/7) • Korea Counseling Graduate University: English sessions available
For expats: • Seoul Global Center offers foreign resident support • Many university counseling centers have English services • NHIS covers some mental health clinic visits
💉Vaccinations & Medical Records
Bring a copy of your vaccination records. Korea follows international vaccination standards.
COVID-19 vaccines: Available at health centers (보건소) and some clinics. Check nhis.or.kr for current availability.
Flu shots (독감): Available Oct–Nov at clinics. Some are free with NHIS.
Travel vaccines before arrival: Check with your home country doctor or a travel medicine clinic for recommended vaccines.
Health checkups: NHIS provides free comprehensive health checkups every 2 years for enrolled members.