Going to a Hospital in Korea

As of August 2026 · Rules may change — check with each organization for the latest details
Where to go when you are sick in Korea, what to bring, and how a visit works — just the essentials.

1. Where should I go?

  • For mild symptoms, start with a local clinic (uiwon). It is fast and inexpensive.
  • If you need major tests or surgery, the clinic will refer you to a hospital or general hospital.
  • At university hospitals (tertiary hospitals), you need a referral letter from a clinic or hospital for health insurance to apply.
  • Prescription medicine is bought at a pharmacy with a doctor's prescription. Pharmacies also sell over-the-counter medicine (fever reducers, etc.).
On Muromuro you can find hospitals open now and open pharmacies on the map. — Find a Hospital · Find a Pharmacy

2. What should I bring?

  • Bring your passport or Alien Registration Card (ARC).
  • If you have National Health Insurance, fees are much lower. It is checked at reception.
  • You pay at the reception desk after seeing the doctor. Cards are accepted.

3. Am I covered by health insurance?

  • If you complete foreign registration and stay in Korea for 6 months or more, you are automatically enrolled in National Health Insurance.
  • Some visa types, such as students (D-2) and non-professional workers (E-9), are enrolled as soon as they register.
  • Employees are covered through their workplace; others become regional subscribers and receive premium bills.
  • If premiums are unpaid, you may not receive insurance benefits at the hospital.
  • For details, contact the National Health Insurance Service (033-811-2000, foreign language support).

4. If you are a tourist

  • You have no Korean health insurance, so you pay the full cost yourself.
  • If you have travel insurance, be sure to get a medical certificate and receipts for your claim.
  • Call 1330 (tourist interpretation hotline, 24 hours) for help in multiple languages.

5. How a visit works

  • Reception — show your ID (passport/ARC) at the desk and wait until your name is called.
  • Consultation — explain your symptoms to the doctor. The Muromuro app auto-translates text and screens.
  • Payment — pay at the desk after the visit and receive a prescription if needed.
  • Pharmacy — hand in the prescription and get your medicine. Prescriptions expire (usually 3-7 days), so go soon.

6. When language is a barrier

  • Immigration Contact Center 1345 — guidance on life and systems in Korea in 20 languages (Ministry of Justice).
  • Danuri Call Center 1577-1366 — counseling for immigrants in 13 languages (24 hours).
  • Tourists: call 1330 (tourist interpretation, 24 hours).

7. In an emergency

  • If life-threatening, call 119 (24 hours, free, ambulance). Interpretation can be connected.
  • Emergency rooms are open 24 hours, but for non-emergencies the cost is high and the wait is long.
  • At night or on holidays, first check which hospitals and pharmacies are open now. — Find a Hospital · Find a Pharmacy · After-Hours Care for Children
This guide is for reference only; rules and fees may change. Check with each organization for the latest details. Contact