How do I visit a hospital in Korea as a foreigner?

Visiting a Korean hospital as a foreigner is straightforward once you know the basic steps. First, decide which type of facility you need. For minor issues like a cold, skin problem, or upset stomach, a local clinic (의원) is the right choice and is much faster than a large hospital. For more serious concerns, a general hospital (병원) or university hospital (대학병원) is appropriate.

When you arrive, go to the reception desk and register as a new patient. You will need your ARC or passport and your National Health Insurance card if you are enrolled. If you have NHIS coverage, your copay at a local clinic is typically 5,000 to 20,000 KRW for the consultation, which is quite affordable. After registration you wait to see the doctor, and once the consultation is done you take any prescription to a pharmacy nearby to fill it. Pharmacies are almost always located right next to or across from clinics.

For hospitals with English-language support, Severance International Health Care Center, Samsung Medical Center, and Asan Medical Center in Seoul all have dedicated international patient services with English-speaking coordinators. At smaller neighborhood clinics without English support, Papago or Google Translate on your phone works well for communicating symptoms. Most clinics accept walk-in patients for general visits without an appointment, so you do not usually need to book in advance for routine care.