Health & Beauty in Seoul
Pharmacies and clinics — 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 — it's free and available 24 hours.
Tip: 24-hour pharmacies are marked — these are your best option after midnight.
24h Pharmacy
Pharmacies open all night in Seoul
Clinic
English-friendly clinics and hospitals
Emergency Room
24/7 emergency rooms in Seoul
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 — useful for reading medication labels. The Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 hotline also provides medical interpretation assistance.
What medication can I buy without a prescription in Korea?
Korean pharmacies stock a wide range of over-the-counter medication. Cold and flu medicine (감기약), pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen (진통제), digestive aids (소화제 / 정로환), antacids, allergy tablets (항히스타민제), 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 21:00–22:00; look for 24h-designated pharmacies for late-night needs.
What 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.
Are English-speaking clinics and hospitals easy to find?
Yes, especially in central Seoul. Major international hospitals — Yonsei University Severance Hospital (Sinchon), Samsung Medical Center (Gangnam), Asan Medical Center (Songpa), and Seoul National University Hospital (Jongno) — 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 ₩10,000–30,000 — significantly cheaper than Western emergency room visits. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for longer stays.
