🏥 How Foreigners Use Korean Hospitals
(Clinic system / check-in steps / insurance discounts / phrases to use)
Korea has one of the most efficient medical systems in the world.
Short waiting time, low cost, and very organized.
As a foreigner, the experience becomes easy when you understand:
✅ the hospital structure
✅ how to check in
✅ how insurance works
Let’s break it down in simple steps.
🏥 Types of medical facilities (you must choose the right one)
| Type | Korean Name | When to go? |
| Small clinic | 의원, 내과, 이비인후과, 피부과 등 | General symptoms (cold, allergic rhinitis, sore throat, light illness) |
| Hospital / specialist center | 병원 | Tests, treatment requiring equipment |
| University hospital (large) | 종합병원 | Complex diagnosis, surgery needed |
| Emergency Room | 응급실 | Emergency (trauma, heart issue, severe pain) |
➡️ In Korea, people go to a small clinic first, not a big hospital.
➡️ Large hospitals usually require a referral letter (진료 의뢰서).
🧾 What to bring
| Required | Why |
| 🪪 ARC (Alien Registration Card) or Passport | ID verification |
| 💳 Korean Health Insurance (NHIS) or Insurance card | Discount |
| 📱 Korean phone number | SMS registration & call-back |
| 💳 Credit / Debit card | Payment (most places don’t take cash) |
🛠 How to check in (Step-by-step)
① Go to the reception desk
② Give ARC or passport
③ Tell your symptom (one sentence is enough)
④ Receive a waiting number ticket
⑤ Wait until your number appears on the screen
⑥ See the doctor
⑦ Pay at the counter
⑧ Go to the pharmacy (약국)TIP:
Pharmacy is usually next to the clinic.
Look for the sign: 약국
🗣 What to say (English → Korean)
| Situation | Korean Phrase |
| “I would like to see the doctor.” | 진료 받고 싶습니다. |
| “I have health insurance.” | 건강보험 있습니다. |
| “I don’t have Korean insurance.” | 건강보험 없습니다. |
| “Where is the pharmacy?” | 약국이 어디인가요? |
| “Do I need a reservation?” | 예약이 필요한가요? |
Show the sentence on your phone — staff will understand.
💳 How insurance discount works (NHIS)
With Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS):
- Doctor visit: 70–80% discount
- ER visit: 50–60% discount
- Surgery: major discount (varies)
- Medicine at pharmacy: partially covered
Example:
| Treatment | Without NHIS | With NHIS |
| Clinic visit (ENT / dermatology) | ₩30,000–₩45,000 | ₩5,000–₩12,000 |
| Emergency room visit | ₩300,000–₩500,000 | ₩70,000–₩120,000 |
With NHIS, Korea becomes one of the cheapest healthcare systems globally.
🏥 If you DON’T have NHIS
You can still visit a hospital.
- Bring passport
- Pay full price
- Some clinics accept private international insurance (varies)
If you plan to stay in Korea long-term, NHIS is strongly recommended.
💊 How to receive prescription medicine (Pharmacy)
Process:
① Receive prescription document from clinic
② Go to a pharmacy (약국)
③ Give prescription + ARC/passport
④ Pay and receive medicineThe pharmacist will explain:
- dosage (how many times per day)
- how to take (before or after meals)
Terms:
- 하루 3번 = 3 times a day
- 식후 = after meal
- 식전 = before meal
🚑 Emergency situation (IMPORTANT)
➡️ Dial 119 (free ambulance service)
➡️ Operators usually speak English
➡️ Ambulance takes you to the nearest hospital
🧠 Special notes for foreigners
| Case | Tip |
| You have private insurance from overseas | Keep receipts. Claim later. |
| You want a specific doctor specialty | Search by “피부과 / 내과 / 이비인후과 / 정형외과” |
| Language support needed | Large hospitals have English desks |
✅ Hospital visit checklist
| Task | Done |
| ARC or passport prepared | ☐ |
| Insurance card (NHIS) or insurance app ready | ☐ |
| Know your symptoms (write note in English/Korean) | ☐ |
| Payment card ready | ☐ |
| Pharmacy after doctor visit | ☐ |
🔑 Summary
- Go to a small clinic first, not a big university hospital.
- Show ARC + NHIS card → medical costs drop dramatically.
- After the appointment, go to a pharmacy (약국) for medicine.
Once you understand the flow, Korean hospitals are fast, efficient, and affordable.
