📍 Tip: Before You Start Your Hospital Search in Korea

Before you head out, make sure to download the Naver Map app — it’s the most accurate navigation app in Korea.
Unlike Google Maps, which often struggles with Korean addresses and routes, Naver Map provides precise walking, driving, and public transport directions in English.
Available on both Android and iOS, it’s your best companion for finding hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies anywhere in Korea.
👉 Download Naver Map (Google Play) | App Store

🏥 Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners — 10 Essential Tips for Foreigners

Where to Go, What to Bring, and How to Get Medical Help in Korea (Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju, Sejong)

1️⃣ Requirements & Procedures for Foreigners – Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners

✅ Can I visit a hospital without an Alien Registration Card?

Yes! You can receive medical treatment in Korea with just your passport — no Alien Registration Card required.

• Short-term visitors (under 90 days)
• Visa-free travelers
• Tourist visa (B-2) or ETA-approved visitors

📌 Some public health centers require a registration card, so it’s safest to visit private hospitals or clinics.

🛂 Required Documents

• ✅ Passport
• ✅ Flight ticket or ETA approval (for entry date verification)
• ✅ Travel insurance (if available)

💬 Need an interpreter? Call the hospital in advance — many can arrange in-person or app-based translation.

2️⃣ 💰 Medical Costs & Insurance Coverage

① Cost Overview

• Short-term visitors pay 100% out of pocket.
• Non-insured foreigners may pay 2–4x higher than insured locals.

💸 Example costs:
Cold treatment: ₩7,000 (insured) → ₩20,000–30,000 (uninsured)
ER visit: ₩200,000–500,000 ($140–350)
Serious illness: several million won

② Insurance Coverage

• No National Health Insurance without an Alien Registration Card.
• But you can claim reimbursement later if covered by travel or global insurance (e.g., AIG).

3️⃣ National Health Insurance for Foreigners

① Who Must Enroll

Foreigners with registration who stay 6+ months must join Korea’s National Health Insurance.
Employees and spouses of Koreans can enroll sooner.

② Enrollment Types

• a. Employee Plan: For foreigners employed in Korea; handled by the workplace.
• b. Regional Plan: For students, retirees, or long-term residents; automatically applied after 6 months.

③ Exemptions

• a. Reciprocity Rule: If Koreans can’t receive benefits abroad (e.g., USA, China), citizens of that country may be exempt.
• b. Overseas Insurance Holders: Foreigners with equivalent public or private coverage may apply for exemption or deferral.

Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners

4️⃣ Insurance Tips for Short-Term Visitors

• Buy travel insurance with at least $100,000 coverage.
• Medical evacuation can cost over $50,000.
• Keep insurance proof, prescriptions, and medical history saved digitally (Google Drive, etc.).

💡 Medical Korea Support Center also offers a VAT refund (approx. 10%) for medical & cosmetic procedures.

🏥 Medical Korea Support Center
Address: B2 Floor, Seoul Station, 405 Hangang-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
Tel: +82-1577-7129
Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00
Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Thai

Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners

5️⃣ Emergency Contacts You Must Know in Korea

Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners

6️⃣ Essential Apps for Foreigners

📱 Emergency Ready

• Supports 5 languages (EN, CN, JP, TH, VN)
• GPS-based disaster alerts and multilingual notifications
• 📲 Download:
  Google Play /
  App Store

📲 e-gen (Emergency Medical Portal)

• Check real-time hospital, ER, and pharmacy status nationwide
• Locate open hospitals or duty pharmacies near you
• 📲 Download:
  Google Play
  App Store

Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners

7️⃣ Foreigner-Friendly Hospitals in Korea

These hospitals provide English and multilingual medical services, interpreter support, and international patient assistance.
Each region has dedicated International Healthcare Centers (IHC) for foreigners.

🏙️ 1) Seoul

🌊 2) Busan

🏙️ 3) Daejeon

🏞️ 4) Daegu

🌸 5) Gwangju & Jeonnam

🏛️ 6) Sejong

8️⃣ Seoul Urgent Care Clinics

For non-life-threatening but urgent medical needs such as fever, pain, mild injuries, or sudden illness, you can visit Seoul’s Urgent Care Clinics.
These are designed to provide fast treatment without long ER waits.
Operating hours: 09:00 AM – 12:00 AM (midnight)

9️⃣ Seoul’s Designated 24-Hour Surgical Emergency Hospitals

These hospitals are certified by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to handle surgical emergencies 24 hours a day, including trauma and urgent operations.
Perfect for immediate treatment after accidents or injuries.

🔟 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Q1. I can’t speak Korean — how do I call an ambulance?

📞 Dial 119. Calls from foreign numbers automatically connect you to an interpreter through the Korea Tourism Organization.
You’ll have a 3-way call: you + paramedic + translator.
Supports 16 languages including English, Chinese, and Japanese.
If you forget 119, call 1330 (Tourist Hotline); they can connect you directly.

❓ Q2. How much does an ambulance cost?

🚑 Basic ambulance transport costs about ₩50,000–100,000 ($35–70).
Hospital treatment fees are separate — even simple ER care may cost ₩200,000–500,000.
If uninsured, surgery or hospitalization can reach millions of won.
👉 Travel insurance is essential, not optional.

❓ Q3. Are hospitals safe during medical crises?

🩺 Yes, Korea’s emergency medical system remains stable.
Seoul expanded ER hours and deployed military doctors.
The only issue may be long waits for non-urgent treatments — use urgent care clinics if needed.

❓ Q4. Can I pay with foreign health insurance?

💳 Some global insurers work with Korean hospitals,
but most require a pay-first, claim-later process.
Always ask for English receipts and diagnostic reports before leaving.

❓ Q5. What if I run out of medicine while traveling?

💊 Korean pharmacies sell many over-the-counter (OTC) drugs without prescriptions,
and most pharmacists understand basic English.
Foreign prescriptions are not valid, so you must see a local doctor for a new one.
Hospitals with international centers (like Samsung or Severance) can reissue prescriptions using your English medical documents.

For holiday or emergency medical access during national holidays, check:
Hospitals and Pharmacies Open During Chuseok 2025 in Seoul — Survival Guide for Foreigners

💙 Stay Safe, Stay Healthy — Korean Hospital Guide for Foreigners

Your trusted bilingual guide to living and traveling in Korea