No vaccinations are required, tap water is safe to drink, and pharmacies carry the Yakguk sign. Severance, Seoul St. Mary's and Samsung Medical Center all run dedicated international departments with English-speaking coordinators. Care is good and it is not free - you pay and claim back.
- No vaccinations are required for entry, and malaria and dengue are effectively absent from urban areas.
- Tap water is safe to drink across the country, though locals often prefer filtered or bottled for the taste.
- Pharmacies carry the "Yakguk" (약국) sign; convenience stores stock basic painkillers and cold remedies around the clock.
- Severance Hospital runs the largest international clinic, with English-speaking coordinators: +82-2-2228-5800.
- Seoul St. Mary's (+82-2-2258-5745) and Samsung Medical Center (+82-2-3410-0200) have their own international departments.
- 1339 is the emergency medical information line for foreign visitors; 119 brings a free ambulance, but the hospital bill is yours.
Health, insurance and where to be treated
- Vaccinations - none is required to enter. Malaria and dengue are effectively absent from urban areas; ordinary insect precautions are sensible in the countryside in summer.
- Tap water is safe - chemically and bacteriologically - across the country. Many Koreans still drink filtered or bottled water, which is about taste rather than safety.
- Pharmacies are marked "Yakguk" (약국). Basic painkillers and cold remedies are also sold in convenience stores, which are open 24 hours.
Hospitals with international departments in Seoul
| Hospital | Phone | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Severance Hospital (Yonsei University), Seodaemun-gu | +82-2-2228-5800 | The first and largest international clinic in the country, with English-speaking coordinators. |
| Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, Seocho-gu | +82-2-2258-5745 | Dedicated international healthcare centre. |
| Samsung Medical Center, Gangnam-gu | +82-2-3410-0200 | Global Healthcare Center; strong diagnostics. |
Paying
Korean healthcare is good and it is not free to you. A visitor without insurance pays the full cost of care directly.
- 119 brings an ambulance at no charge, but examination, tests, treatment and medication at the hospital are all billed separately.
- 1339 is the emergency medical information line for foreign visitors - use it when you need to know whether and where to go.
- Keep every receipt and the itemised bill for your insurer.
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