Health & Beauty in Seoul
Pharmacies and clinics β stay healthy while traveling.
Pharmacies are everywhere in Seoul and most carry medication you'd need a prescription for at home. For clinics and hospitals, international-facing facilities in tourist areas have English-speaking staff. In a genuine emergency, call 119 β it's free and available 24 hours.
Tip: 24-hour pharmacies are marked β these are your best option after midnight.
Read Before You Go
Common Questions
Do pharmacies in Seoul speak English?
English ability varies, but most pharmacists in tourist-area pharmacies (Myeongdong, Hongdae, Insadong, Itaewon) are used to helping foreign customers and can manage basic communication. If language is a barrier, showing your symptoms in Google Translate or Papago, or pointing to a body part, works reliably. The Naver Translate app also has a camera mode that translates Korean text in real time β useful for reading medication labels. The Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 hotline also provides medical interpretation assistance.
β Browse 24h pharmaciesWhat medication can I buy without a prescription in Korea?
Korean pharmacies stock a wide range of over-the-counter medication. Cold and flu medicine (κ°κΈ°μ½), pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen (μ§ν΅μ ), digestive aids (μνμ / μ λ‘ν), antacids, allergy tablets (ννμ€νλ―Όμ ), and topical wound treatments are all available without a prescription. Basic eye drops, vitamins, and travel medication (motion sickness, electrolytes) are also on the shelves. Antibiotics require a prescription. Prices are generally lower than in Western countries. Most pharmacies are open until 21:00β22:00; look for 24h-designated pharmacies for late-night needs.
β Find pharmacies near youWhat emergency numbers should I save before I travel?
119 connects you to ambulance services and fire (operators can switch to English); 112 is for police; 1339 is the medical advice hotline available in English, Japanese, and Chinese, 24 hours a day. The Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 hotline provides travel emergency assistance and interpretation support in multiple languages, also 24/7. In a medical emergency, major hospitals like Severance, Samsung Seoul Hospital, and Asan Medical Center all have international patient centers with English-speaking staff. Save these numbers before you leave home.
β Browse emergency roomsAre English-speaking clinics and hospitals easy to find?
Yes, especially in central Seoul. Major international hospitals β Yonsei University Severance Hospital (Sinchon), Samsung Medical Center (Gangnam), Asan Medical Center (Songpa), and Seoul National University Hospital (Jongno) β all have dedicated international patient centers where staff speak English, Japanese, and Chinese. For minor issues, many clinics near tourist areas (especially Itaewon and Hongdae) have English-speaking doctors or staff. Consultation fees at local clinics typically run β©10,000β30,000 β significantly cheaper than Western emergency room visits. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for longer stays.
β Browse English-friendly clinics