Can I buy medicine at a GS25 or CU when every pharmacy is closed?
I came down with a fever late on a Sunday in Suwon and every pharmacy near me was shut. A neighbour said convenience stores carry a limited set of medicines. Which items are actually stocked at a GS25 or CU, is there an age or quantity limit, and how do I tell which branches carry them before walking there?
1 Answer
Yes, but only a short list of items. Convenience stores in Korea carry designated household medicines under a system that lets them sell a limited range outside pharmacy hours.
The list is fixed by regulation and covers around thirteen products in four groups: antipyretic painkillers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, cold remedies, digestive medicines, and medicated patches for muscle pain. Antibiotics, anything requiring a prescription, and most children's formulations are not included. So for a fever on a Sunday night you can get something, but for anything beyond that you need a pharmacy or a clinic.
There are limits on how much you can buy. Purchases are restricted to a single package per transaction, and the products are not sold to children under twelve, which is worth knowing before you send a younger family member out.
Not every branch stocks them. Only stores that have registered under the scheme carry the items, so a GS25 or CU near you may have none. The reliable way to check before walking is the public health portal, which lists registered convenience stores by area, and the 129 health and welfare counselling line can also tell you what is open nearby.
For a holiday period or a weekend when you need more than a painkiller, the emergency medical portal e-gen (e-gen.or.kr) lists hospitals and pharmacies actually open in your area, and it is the fastest way to find a clinic rather than defaulting to an emergency room. Emergency rooms charge substantially more than a clinic for the same complaint, so the portal saves money as well as time. In Suwon both the portal and the 119 line can direct you to a duty clinic.