What over-the-counter medications can I buy without a prescription in Korea, and what do foreigners commonly buy?
I am from Germany and the Korean pharmacy system is unfamiliar to me. What is the scope of OTC medications here, and what are the Korean names for commonly used items like cold medicine, painkillers, and indigestion remedies?
I also heard convenience stores sell some drugs — which ones, and are there English-speaking pharmacies?
1 Answer
The range of over-the-counter medicine at Korean pharmacies is pretty wide, covering cold medicine, painkillers, digestive aids, anti-diarrheals, ointments, and pain patches. It helps to know a few brand names: for cold medicine, Panpyrin, Coldawon, or Whituben are common; for painkillers, Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Geworin and ibuprofen types; for digestion, Bearse, Festal, or the liquid Gas Hwalmyeongsu; and for diarrhea, Smecta. Just tell the pharmacist your symptoms and they will pick something suitable. Convenience stores carry a limited set of safety OTC items 24 hours, like Tylenol, cold medicine such as Pancold, digestive aids, and pain patches, but the types and quantities are restricted. English-speaking pharmacies are common in Itaewon, Hannam-dong, and Gangnam, and near big hospitals with international clinics, and you can ask the 120 call center or use a foreigner medical guide service to find an English-capable pharmacy or clinic.