Getting medicine in Korea is quick and affordable once you know how the system works. The key thing to understand is the split between prescription medicine, which comes from a pharmacy after a doctor visit, and over-the-counter remedies you can buy more freely.
Finding a pharmacy
A pharmacy is a yakguk. Look for the green cross sign and the word displayed outside. Pharmacies are everywhere, and there is almost always one right next to a clinic or hospital, ready to fill the prescription you just received.
Prescription medicine
Korea separates prescribing from dispensing:
- You see a doctor, who diagnoses you and issues a prescription (cheobangjeon)
- You take the prescription to any pharmacy
- The pharmacist dispenses the medicine, explains the dosage, and you pay the co-payment
With NHIS, the cost of most prescription medicine is heavily subsidised, so you pay only a small share. The pharmacist will usually package your tablets by dose and time, which makes them easy to take correctly.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicine
For everyday complaints you can buy directly from the pharmacist without a prescription, including:
- Painkillers and fever reducers
- Cold, cough and flu remedies
- Indigestion and stomach medicine
- Antiseptics, plasters and basic first aid
A limited set of safe OTC items (some painkillers, digestive aids) is also sold in convenience stores, which is handy at night when pharmacies are closed.
The language tip that helps most
Korean brand names differ from what you know, so:
- Tell or show the pharmacist the active ingredient (for example, ibuprofen, paracetamol/acetaminophen, loratadine) rather than a home brand name
- Describe your symptoms simply, or use a translation app like Papago
- Mention any allergies or other medicines you take
Pharmacists in Korea are highly trained and can recommend the right OTC product for your symptoms.
Bringing or refilling regular medication
If you take medicine regularly:
- Bring a doctor letter or prescription describing the drug by its generic name when you arrive
- See a local doctor to get an equivalent prescription — the same drug may have a different name here
- Do not assume a specific brand will be available; the generic equivalent usually is
Opening hours
- Most pharmacies follow daytime business hours and many close on Sundays
- Pharmacies near big hospitals stay open longer
- For urgent night needs, convenience stores cover basic items, or an emergency room can help
Costs
- OTC medicine is inexpensive
- Prescription medicine is cheap with NHIS; without insurance it costs more, another reason to stay enrolled
Remember the green cross. For anything a doctor prescribes, the pharmacy next door will fill it cheaply with NHIS. For everyday aches and colds, describe your symptoms or the active ingredient to the pharmacist and they will sort you out.