Getting sick during a trip is stressful, especially when you do not know where to go, how Korea’s medical system works, or what your travel insurance will cover. This guide explains what foreign visitors should do—from choosing a clinic to collecting insurance documents.
If someone is unconscious, cannot breathe normally, has severe chest pain, major bleeding, stroke-like symptoms, a serious allergic reaction, or a major injury, call 119 immediately.
Quick Guide
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms | Call 119 |
| You need treatment, but it is not an emergency | Visit a local clinic |
| You need care at night or on a public holiday | Find an open clinic or emergency department |
| You have mild symptoms or need non-prescription medicine | Ask a pharmacist |
| You need non-emergency language assistance | Contact 1330 |
1. Call 119 in a Medical Emergency
In Korea, 119 is the emergency number for ambulances, fire services, and rescue. Dial it from any phone without an area code.
Call 119 for symptoms such as:
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Sudden severe chest pain
- Facial drooping, weakness on one side, or difficulty speaking
- Major bleeding
- A serious allergic reaction
- A seizure that does not stop
- A serious traffic accident, fall, or other major injury
If you do not speak Korean, say:
“English, please. I need an ambulance.”
Tell the operator:
- Your location or hotel name
- What happened
- Whether the patient is conscious
- Whether the patient is breathing normally
- A phone number where you can be reached
Korea’s public 119 ambulance service does not charge an ambulance fee. Hospital care is separate: emergency room consultations, tests, treatment, medicine, and hospitalization may all be billed to the patient. Ambulances operated by hospitals or private providers may also charge a transportation fee.
Foreign-language interpretation can be arranged during a 119 call, but connection time and availability may vary. In an emergency, give your location and the patient’s condition as clearly and briefly as possible.
Official information: Seoul Jung-gu Medical Services for Foreigners and Korea’s Emergency Medical Service Act.
2. Decide Where to Go
Local clinic
For most non-emergency illnesses, a neighborhood clinic is the best place to start. Clinics are generally easier to access than large hospitals, and many accept same-day patients.
Search for these departments:
| Symptoms | Department |
|---|---|
| Fever, cold symptoms, stomach problems | Internal Medicine or Family Medicine |
| Ear, nose, or throat problems | ENT |
| Rash or other skin problems | Dermatology |
| Eye pain, redness, or vision changes | Ophthalmology |
| Sprain, joint pain, or suspected fracture | Orthopedics |
| Toothache or dental injury | Dentistry |
| Pregnancy-related symptoms | Obstetrics and Gynecology |
| Illness affecting a child | Pediatrics |
A large university hospital is not automatically faster or cheaper. It may require an appointment or referral and is better suited to conditions requiring specialist tests, surgery, or hospitalization.
Emergency department
Go to an emergency department when you need urgent evaluation but can travel safely without an ambulance. If the symptoms may be life-threatening or the patient cannot travel safely, call 119.
Emergency departments prioritize patients according to medical urgency. A patient with mild symptoms may wait longer and pay substantially more than at a local clinic.
Pharmacy
For a mild headache, indigestion, or uncomplicated cold symptoms, you can ask a pharmacist about non-prescription medicine.
Tell the pharmacist if you:
- Take other medication
- Have drug allergies
- Have a chronic medical condition
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
A pharmacy does not replace a medical examination. Visit a clinic if your symptoms are severe, unusual, persistent, or getting worse.
3. Find an Open Clinic or Pharmacy
Use an official medical search service to check nearby facilities.
HIRA Hospital and Pharmacy Search
The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service provides location-based information on clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, and emergency departments. Search filters include facilities shown as currently open and pediatric clinics operating after 8 p.m.
Find a hospital or pharmacy through HIRA
The interface is primarily in Korean, so a browser translation function may be helpful.
E-Gen Emergency Medical Portal
E-Gen provides information on emergency departments and medical facilities operating at night, on weekends, and during public holidays.
Open the E-Gen Emergency Medical Portal
Online hours can be outdated, and registration may close before the stated closing time. Call the facility before traveling there and ask:
- Are you accepting patients today?
- Can I visit without an appointment?
- Do you treat short-term foreign visitors?
- Is English assistance available?
- What time does registration close?
Useful phrases:
“Can I see a doctor without an appointment?”
“Do you treat patients without Korean National Health Insurance?”
“Is English assistance available?”
4. Prepare for Your Visit
Bring:
- Your passport
- Travel insurance details
- A credit card or another accepted payment method
- A list or photos of your current medications
- Information about drug allergies
- Details of major medical conditions or previous surgery
- The address of your accommodation
- Your insurer’s emergency assistance number
Write down when the symptoms began, your temperature if known, and any medicine you have already taken. Tell the medical staff if pregnancy is possible before an X-ray, CT scan, medication, or other relevant treatment.
English-speaking staff are not available at every clinic. A translated note containing your symptoms, medication, and allergies can make the visit easier.
5. Understand the Costs
Most short-term tourists are not enrolled in Korea’s National Health Insurance. Unless you have other eligible Korean coverage, expect to be treated as an uninsured patient and to pay the medical provider directly.
Your bill may include:
- Consultation fees
- Laboratory tests
- X-rays, CT scans, or other imaging
- Treatment and procedures
- Emergency department charges
- Medication
- Hospital admission
- Medical certificates
Costs vary widely by facility and treatment. There is no reliable flat price for an uninsured visit. International clinics may offer easier communication but can cost more than neighborhood clinics.
For non-emergency care, ask before testing:
“Could you tell me the estimated cost before the test?”
Korea’s National Health Insurance eligibility rules for registered foreign residents should not be confused with coverage for ordinary short-term tourists. The official eligibility guidance is available from the National Health Insurance Service.
6. Contact Your Travel Insurer
If your condition is not an emergency, contact your insurer before visiting a hospital. Ask:
- Do you have a designated medical provider in Korea?
- Is advance approval required?
- Can you pay the hospital directly?
- Must I pay first and request reimbursement?
- Which documents must I submit?
Showing an insurance card does not guarantee free treatment or direct billing. Direct payment depends on the insurer, policy, hospital, and prior authorization.
Never delay emergency treatment while waiting for an insurer’s approval. Call 119 first when the situation is serious.
7. Get Medicine from a Pharmacy
Outpatient prescriptions in Korea usually follow this process:
- Receive an examination at a clinic or hospital.
- Pay the medical bill.
- Receive a prescription.
- Take it to a pharmacy.
- Pay the pharmacy separately.
Under Korea’s Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, prescription-only medicine cannot normally be sold without a prescription, while non-prescription medicine may be sold by a pharmacy without one. This means medicines such as antibiotics generally require a doctor’s prescription.
Official reference: Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
Some convenience stores sell a limited range of designated medicines, but they do not carry every non-prescription product and cannot dispense prescription medicine.
If you need a medicine you normally take at home, show the doctor or pharmacist:
- The generic ingredient name
- Dosage and strength
- A photo of the package
- A copy of your prescription, if available
Brand names and available strengths may differ in Korea. Do not choose a substitute based only on similar packaging or a translated brand name.
8. Collect Documents for Your Insurance Claim
Before leaving the hospital or pharmacy, ask which documents can be issued. Your insurer may require:
- Medical receipt
- Itemized medical bill
- Copy of the prescription
- Pharmacy receipt
- Medical certificate or outpatient confirmation
- Test results
- Admission and discharge certificate, if hospitalized
English-language documents may cost extra. Check whether your insurer actually requires an English version before ordering one.
Keep the originals and make digital copies. Some insurers require original receipts or their own claim form.
9. Get Language Help
For non-emergency assistance, foreign visitors can contact the Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 Korea Travel Helpline.
- Within Korea: 1330
- From an international number: +82-2-1330
- Telephone and online chat support
The Korea Tourism Organization currently lists support in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, and Indonesian. Check the official 1330 information page for the latest service details.
The 1330 helpline provides travel information and language assistance. It should not be presented as a guaranteed professional medical interpretation service. For a diagnosis, procedure, surgery, or consent form, ask the hospital whether qualified interpretation is available.
In a medical emergency, call 119 first.
Save These Numbers
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 119 | Ambulance, fire, and rescue |
| 112 | Police |
| 1330 | Tourist information and language assistance |
Before You Leave the Medical Facility
Make sure that you:
- Understand how and when to take your medicine
- Know when to return or seek emergency help
- Have your prescription, if one was issued
- Have the receipts and documents required by your insurer
- Have paid both the medical and pharmacy bills, where applicable
Last fact-checked: August 10, 2026. Medical facility hours, fees, admission policies, insurance procedures, and language services can change. Confirm non-emergency details directly with the provider or insurer. In a serious emergency, call 119 immediately.