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Health and medical
National Health Insurance System
National Health Insurance System
Korea operates a health insurance system where individuals pay a monthly premium based on their income level and property owned. The insured are divided into 2 types; the employee insured and the self-employed insured. The workers and employers in all workplaces, the public officials and private school employees, and their dependents are considered as the employee insured. The insured other than the employee insured and their dependents are classified as the self-employed insured.Foreigners Eligible for Health Insurance
Any foreigner who has stayed in Korea for over 6 months is subject to mandatory subscription to health insurance(From July 16, 2019), and receive the same health insurance benefits as Korean citizens. Foreigners who enter Korea from April 3rd, 2024 must stay in Korea for 6 months to be eligible for national health insurance as dependents.Type of Health Insurance
The employee insured
Foreigners whose status of stay is acknowledged under the relevant laws are obligatorily entitled to the employee insured. However, short-term foreign workers with an Industrial Trainee(D-3) or Work and Visit (H-2) visa may be excluded from payment of long-term care insurance premiums for older persons, as they will return to their country after the period of stay ends.The self-employed insured
Foreigners who have stayed in Korea for more than 6 months are automatically registered as a self-employed insured by National Health Insurance Service(NHIS). NHIS will send an NHI Card and a bill to their residential address.
Dependent Registration
Under the revised National Health Insurance Act, foreigners must reside in Korea for at least six months to qualify as dependents, similar to the self-employee insured. However, children under 10 and the spouse of an insurance subscriber can be registered as dependents and receive health insurance coverage, regardless of residency.
* Required Documents : Dependent qualification report, Alien registration card or domestic residence report card, Family relationship certificates, etc
Medical Care System in Korea
Medical Care System
Korea has 78,126 medical institutions across the country, including 353 general hospitals, 2,234 regular hospitals (including dental and oriental medicine), and 1,362 skilled nursing facilities. Among all medical institutions, 228 are public healthcare facilities. (as of December, 2023)
| Level | Primary care center | Secondary care center | Tertiary care center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Clinics and Community health centers | Hospitals and general hospitals | Tertiary general hospital |
| Subjects | Mostly outpatients | Mostly inpatients | Mostly patients with severe diseases |
| Major Tasks | Basic medical services for common diseases | Hospitalization and surgical patient care | Medical care for serious illnesses which requires high levels of expertise including surgical and medical procedures |
| Comprehensive medical services including disease prevention and medical consultation | Treatment for patients requiring specialized care for different specialties | Treatment for patients with diseases with high rates of lethality or complication | |
| Healthcare services for publichealth promotion | Treatment for inpatients with chronic diseases in need of long-term care | Treatment for patients requiring care from multiple specialties and utilization of specific medical facilities and equipment |
- To receive medical treatment at a tertiary general hospital, a patient should submit a referral issued by a primary(clinic) or secondary care center. If a patient goes directly to a tertiary care center without a referral from a primary or secondary care center, he/she may pay higher initial medical expenses.
- However, emergency patients, patients going through childbirth, hemophiliacs, and patients who visit the dentist, rehabilitation medicine centers, or family medicine clinics can receive medical treatment at a tertiary care center without a referral.
Link to the list of primary center in Seoul with foreign language support
Mapo-gu 
|
Dongdaemun-gu
|
Gwanak-gu
|
|
Gangdong-gu
|
Yongsan-gu
|
Dongjak-gu
|
* For other district in Seoul, it will be updated as information available in the future.
List of secondary and tertiary care centers with service in English
| Hospital | Address | Business hours | Contact information | Language available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital | 10, 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul | Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
1661-7575
|
Korean, English |
| The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital | 222, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul |
Monday through Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
1588-1511
|
Korean, English, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic |
| Severance Hospital of Yonsei University Health System | 50-1, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul | Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM |
1599-1004
|
Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Arabic |
| Gangnam Severance Hospital of Yonsei University | 211, Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM |
1599-6114
|
Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Arabic |
| Asan Medical Center | 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul | Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM |
1688-7575
|
Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Mongolian, and Arabic |
| Samsung Medical Center | 81, Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul |
Monday through Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
1599-3114
|
Korean, English, Chinese, and Russian |
| Hanyang University Seoul Hospital | 222-1, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul | Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM |
02-2290-8114
|
Korean, English, Chinese, and Russian |
| Soonchunhyang University Hospital Seoul | 59, Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul |
Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
02-709-9000
|
Korean, English |
| Kyung Hee University Medical Center | 23, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul |
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM
- 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
02-958-8114/9988
|
Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian |
| Chung-Ang University Hospital | 102, Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul |
Monday through Friday
9:00 AM
- 4:30 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
1800-1114
|
Korean, Chinese, English, Russian, and Mongolian |
| Konkuk University Medical Center | 120-1, Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul | Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
1588-1533
|
Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Mongolian |
Pharmacies
The Korean medical system separates prescribing and dispensing of medication. Drugs are divided into prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs. You can purchase general medical supplies, such as digestive medicines, nutritional supplements, vitamins, health drinks, and cold medicines, without a prescription.
You cannot purchase medicines with a prescription issued by a hospital in other countries. If you are allergic to certain drugs, consult your healthcare professional in advance to avoid the risk of unwanted side effects. You may bring enough prescription drugs for your needs before entering Korea if you are taking any.
You cannot purchase medicines with a prescription issued by a hospital in other countries. If you are allergic to certain drugs, consult your healthcare professional in advance to avoid the risk of unwanted side effects. You may bring enough prescription drugs for your needs before entering Korea if you are taking any.
Holiday Pharmacies (Language: Korean)
Most pharmacies do not open on Sundays or during holidays. However, you can purchase medications at a drug store designated as a holiday pharmacy. Visit the website for holiday pharmacies (www.pharm114.or.kr[Korean]) for further information on business schedules, hours, addresses, etc.
(Language: Korean)
Most pharmacies do not open on Sundays or during holidays. However, you can purchase medications at a drug store designated as a holiday pharmacy. Visit the website for holiday pharmacies (www.pharm114.or.kr[Korean]) for further information on business schedules, hours, addresses, etc.
Hospitals and Pharmacies Available on Weekends
Online emergency medical service system E-gen (Language : English)
The National Emergency Medical Center (NEMC) develops detailed procedures and manages information about all emergencies and the current status of emergency departments of hospitals across the country. The NEMC runs E-gen to enable the public to access emergency medical services quickly and easily through improved quality of emergency medical care at accident sites and hospitals, enhanced networks, cooperation among relevant parties, and incorporation of advanced IT. (Visit the website for more information on hospitals, pharmacies, emergency centers, steps to use automated external defibrillator (AEDs), and emergency care.)
(Language : English)
The National Emergency Medical Center (NEMC) develops detailed procedures and manages information about all emergencies and the current status of emergency departments of hospitals across the country. The NEMC runs E-gen to enable the public to access emergency medical services quickly and easily through improved quality of emergency medical care at accident sites and hospitals, enhanced networks, cooperation among relevant parties, and incorporation of advanced IT. (Visit the website for more information on hospitals, pharmacies, emergency centers, steps to use automated external defibrillator (AEDs), and emergency care.)