If you get sick while traveling in Korea, the most important thing is to decide whether you need a pharmacy, a local clinic, a hospital, or emergency assistance.
Minor problems such as a mild cold, headache, stomach discomfort, motion sickness, or a small skin irritation may be handled at a pharmacy or neighborhood clinic.
More serious symptoms may require a hospital or an emergency room.
Korea has modern medical facilities, but the process can feel unfamiliar when you are dealing with language barriers, insurance questions, payment, and an address you do not know well.
This guide explains what to do if you get sick while traveling in Korea and how to get help without unnecessary stress.
Get Sick While Traveling in Korea? Start With the Symptoms
First, take a moment to judge how serious the situation is.
A pharmacy or local clinic may be suitable for:
- Mild cold symptoms
- Sore throat
- Minor fever
- Headache
- Mild stomach discomfort
- Indigestion
- Minor diarrhea
- Motion sickness
- Mild skin irritation
- Small cuts or insect bites
- A simple prescription refill question
Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as:
- Severe chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Sudden weakness or paralysis
- Severe allergic reaction
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Major injury
- Seizure
- Confusion
- Severe dehydration
- A very high fever with worsening symptoms
- Severe abdominal pain
- Symptoms that are rapidly becoming worse
For an ambulance or fire emergency, call 119. Police emergencies use 112. The Korea Travel Hotline at 1330 can also help travelers with interpretation and general travel assistance. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Visit a Pharmacy for Minor Problems
A Korean pharmacy is called:
“약국”
Yakguk.
Pharmacy.
Pharmacies are common near subway stations, clinics, hospitals, and busy shopping streets.
You can usually recognize one by the word “약” or a pharmacy sign outside.
Pharmacists may help with common non-emergency problems such as:
- Cold symptoms
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Motion sickness
- Mild allergies
- Minor pain
- Small skin problems
- Basic first-aid supplies
Not every pharmacist speaks English.
Before going inside, prepare:
- A translation of your symptoms
- A list of current medications
- Your known allergies
- A photo of any medicine you normally take
- The time your symptoms started
- Information about pregnancy or chronic illness, if relevant
Do not rely only on the brand name of a medicine from your home country. The same brand may not exist in Korea, and the ingredients or dosage may differ.
For more detail, read Korean Pharmacy Guide for Foreigners: Medicine, Prescriptions, and Useful Tips.
When to Visit a Local Clinic
For non-emergency illness, a neighborhood clinic is often the best choice.
Clinics are generally smaller and easier to access than major hospitals.
Common clinic types include:
- 내과 — internal medicine
- 이비인후과 — ear, nose, and throat clinic
- 피부과 — dermatology
- 정형외과 — orthopedics
- 안과 — ophthalmology
- 소아청소년과 — pediatrics
- 산부인과 — obstetrics and gynecology
- 가정의학과 — family medicine
For a fever, cough, sore throat, stomach problem, or general illness, an internal medicine or family medicine clinic is usually a reasonable starting point.
For severe throat pain, sinus symptoms, or ear pain, an ENT clinic may be more suitable.
For a rash or skin reaction, consider dermatology.
Clinics may accept walk-in patients, but opening hours vary. Many close during lunch, on Sundays, or on public holidays.
Check current hours before leaving your hotel.
How to Find a Clinic
Naver Map and KakaoMap are usually more useful than relying only on English map results in Korea.
Try searching:
- 내과
- 가정의학과
- 이비인후과
- 피부과
- 병원
- 의원
- 약국
Add the name of your neighborhood or subway station.
For example:
“Myeongdong internal medicine”
or
“명동 내과”
Check:
- Opening hours
- Distance
- Recent reviews
- Whether the clinic is open now
- Whether English support is mentioned
- Whether the clinic treats foreign patients
Call before visiting when possible, especially if you need English assistance.
Read How to Use Naver Map and KakaoMap in Korea Without Getting Lost for help finding Korean addresses and businesses.
What to Bring to a Clinic
Bring the following:
- Passport or other identification
- Travel insurance details
- Credit or debit card
- Some Korean won
- A list of medications
- Information about allergies
- Your hotel address and phone number
- A translation app
- A short written description of your symptoms
If you have travel insurance, save the policy number and emergency-assistance phone number.
Take screenshots in case you cannot access your email or insurance app later.
A clinic may ask:
- When the symptoms began
- Whether you have a fever
- Whether you have allergies
- Which medicines you currently take
- Whether you are pregnant
- Whether you have a chronic condition
- Whether you need documentation for insurance
Answer as accurately as possible.
What Happens at a Korean Clinic
The normal process is:
- Register at reception.
- Show identification.
- Explain your symptoms.
- Wait for your name or number.
- Meet the doctor.
- Receive treatment or a prescription.
- Pay at reception.
- Take the prescription to a nearby pharmacy.
Many clinics provide a paper prescription rather than medicine directly.
The pharmacy may be in the same building or nearby.
Payment usually happens on the same day.
Travelers may need to pay the full amount first and request reimbursement from their travel insurer later.
Keep every document.
Keep All Medical and Payment Documents
Ask for and save:
- Medical receipt
- Itemized bill
- Prescription
- Pharmacy receipt
- Medical certificate, if needed
- Diagnosis or treatment note
- Proof of payment
- Doctor’s note for travel changes
- Any test results
Travel insurance companies may require specific documents.
Before leaving the clinic, contact your insurer or check the policy requirements.
A simple receipt may not be enough for every claim.
You can ask:
“영문 진단서가 필요해요.”
Yeongmun jindanseoga piryohaeyo.
I need an English medical certificate.
English documents may cost extra and may not be available immediately.
Going to a Hospital
A hospital may be more appropriate when:
- Symptoms are severe
- A specialist examination is needed
- Imaging or advanced testing is required
- A clinic refers you
- The problem cannot be treated at a small clinic
- You may need admission
- You need emergency care
Large hospitals can be difficult to navigate.
You may need to visit:
- Registration
- International patient center
- Outpatient department
- Emergency department
- Payment desk
- Pharmacy
Some major hospitals have international healthcare centers, but availability, hours, and language support vary.
Calling first can prevent confusion.
Medical Korea provides information intended to help international patients understand healthcare services in Korea. Use it as a reference, but always confirm current details directly with the facility before visiting.
Emergency Rooms
Go to an emergency room or call 119 when the situation is severe or life-threatening.
Do not use an emergency room only because a clinic is inconvenient.
Emergency departments prioritize patients by medical urgency, not arrival order.
This means you may wait a long time if your condition is not considered urgent.
Emergency care may also cost more than a neighborhood clinic.
Call 119 for:
- Severe breathing difficulty
- Serious injury
- Loss of consciousness
- Suspected stroke
- Severe chest pain
- Major bleeding
- Seizure
- Severe allergic reaction
- Any condition that appears immediately life-threatening
When calling, provide:
- Your location
- Building or hotel name
- Floor and room number
- Main symptoms
- Whether the patient is conscious
- Whether the patient is breathing
- A phone number for contact
119 is the Korean emergency number for ambulance and fire services. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Ask Your Hotel for Help
Hotel staff can often help with:
- Finding a nearby clinic
- Confirming opening hours
- Calling a hospital
- Writing the address in Korean
- Explaining symptoms by phone
- Arranging a taxi
- Contacting emergency services
- Helping with basic interpretation
They may not be able to provide medical advice, but they can reduce the language and navigation problems.
Say:
“병원에 가고 싶어요.”
Byeongwone gago sipeoyo.
I want to go to a hospital or clinic.
or
“아픈데 도와주세요.”
Apeunde dowajuseyo.
I am sick. Please help me.
Medicine and Prescriptions
Do not share medication with another traveler.
Do not assume that medicine from a Korean pharmacy has the same strength or ingredients as medicine from home.
Ask:
- How often should I take it?
- Should I take it with food?
- Will it make me sleepy?
- Can I drink alcohol?
- Can I take it with my regular medication?
- Are there any common side effects?
Useful Korean phrases include:
“하루에 몇 번 먹어요?”
Harue myeot beon meogeoyo?
How many times a day should I take it?
“식후에 먹어요?”
Sikhue meogeoyo?
Should I take it after eating?
“졸려요?”
Jollyeoyo?
Will it make me sleepy?
“알레르기가 있어요.”
Allereugiga isseoyo.
I have an allergy.
Keep the packaging and instructions until you finish the medicine.
What If You Need Your Regular Medication?
If you run out of regular medication, bring:
- The original container
- A photo of the prescription
- A doctor’s letter
- The generic ingredient name
- The dosage
- Information about why you take it
Some medicines require a Korean prescription.
A foreign prescription may help the doctor understand your treatment, but it may not always be accepted directly by a pharmacy.
Controlled medicines can have additional restrictions.
Do not wait until the last dose before asking for help.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance can be extremely useful when you get sick while traveling in Korea.
Depending on the policy, it may cover:
- Outpatient treatment
- Emergency treatment
- Hospitalization
- Prescription medicine
- Ambulance costs
- Medical evacuation
- Trip interruption
- Additional accommodation
- A companion’s expenses
Coverage varies greatly.
Contact the insurer as soon as possible if:
- The treatment may be expensive
- Hospital admission is possible
- Surgery may be required
- You need evacuation
- You must cancel or change travel plans
Ask whether the insurer requires:
- Preauthorization
- A specific hospital
- Original receipts
- An English medical certificate
- Itemized bills
- Proof of payment
- A claims form
Do not discard any paperwork.
Language Help
Translation apps can help with simple communication.
Before the appointment, write:
- Main symptom
- When it began
- Pain location
- Pain severity
- Current medication
- Allergies
- Medical conditions
- Pregnancy status
- Recent food, injury, or activity that may be relevant
Use short sentences.
For example:
“I have had a fever since last night.”
“My stomach hurts on the right side.”
“I am allergic to penicillin.”
“I take blood-pressure medicine every day.”
The Korea Travel Hotline at 1330 provides travel information and may assist with interpretation in some situations. It is not a replacement for emergency medical services. For a medical emergency, call 119. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Useful Korean Phrases
“아파요.”
Apayo.
I am sick or in pain.
“열이 있어요.”
Yeori isseoyo.
I have a fever.
“배가 아파요.”
Baega apayo.
My stomach hurts.
“머리가 아파요.”
Meoriga apayo.
I have a headache.
“목이 아파요.”
Mogi apayo.
My throat hurts.
“숨쉬기 힘들어요.”
Sum swigi himdeureoyo.
It is difficult to breathe.
“알레르기가 있어요.”
Allereugiga isseoyo.
I have an allergy.
“이 약을 먹고 있어요.”
I yageul meokgo isseoyo.
I am taking this medicine.
“의사가 필요해요.”
Uisaga piryohaeyo.
I need a doctor.
“응급실에 가야 해요.”
Eunggeupsire gaya haeyo.
I need to go to the emergency room.
“영문 진단서가 필요해요.”
Yeongmun jindanseoga piryohaeyo.
I need an English medical certificate.
Common Mistakes Travelers Make
The first mistake is ignoring worsening symptoms because of concerns about cost or language.
The second is going directly to a major emergency room for a minor problem that a clinic could treat faster.
The third is forgetting to bring identification and insurance information.
The fourth is leaving without receipts or medical documents.
The fifth is taking medicine without confirming the ingredients or dosage.
The sixth is relying only on an English address.
The seventh is waiting until a regular prescription completely runs out.
The eighth is assuming all clinic staff speak English.
The ninth is calling 1330 instead of 119 during a true medical emergency.
Related Korea Compass Guides
For a normal outpatient visit, read How to Visit a Clinic in Korea as a Foreigner.
For medicine and prescriptions, see Korean Pharmacy Guide for Foreigners: Medicine, Prescriptions, and Useful Tips.
For emergency contact information, read Emergency Numbers in Korea: 119, 112, and 1330 Explained.
For useful expressions, see Basic Korean Phrases for Travelers: What to Say in Real Situations.
For finding clinics and pharmacies, read How to Use Naver Map and KakaoMap in Korea Without Getting Lost.
For information aimed at international patients, visit Medical Korea.
Korea Compass Note
Before your trip, save the following information offline:
- Passport copy
- Travel insurance policy number
- Insurance emergency phone number
- Medication list
- Allergy list
- Hotel address in Korean
- 119, 112, and 1330
- A nearby clinic and pharmacy
You may never need this information.
But if you become sick, having everything ready can save time when you are tired, uncomfortable, or unable to communicate clearly.
Final Thoughts
If you get sick while traveling in Korea, start by deciding whether the problem is minor, urgent, or an emergency.
Use a pharmacy for simple over-the-counter needs, a neighborhood clinic for non-emergency medical treatment, and a hospital or 119 for serious conditions.
Bring identification, insurance information, medication details, and a translation of your symptoms.
Keep every receipt and medical document.
Most importantly, do not delay urgent care because of language concerns.
For a true emergency, call 119 immediately.