Join easy, learn steady, feel proud.
Join Free
Korean Survival Phrases: At the Hospital and Pharmacy
Level
A2
Type
Guide
Theme
Travel
작성자
- YanghwaY
작성시각
Nobody plans to get sick while traveling. But if it happens in Korea, here's the good news: Korean healthcare is efficient, affordable, and surprisingly easy to navigate — even with limited Korean. Knowing a handful of key phrases gets you from "I feel terrible" to "here's your medicine" in under an hour.
The Essential Vocabulary
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
병원 | byeongwon | hospital / clinic |
약국 | yakguk | pharmacy |
의사 | uisa | doctor |
약 | yak | medicine |
아프다 | apeuda | to hurt / to be sick |
처방전 | cheobangjon | prescription |
Step 1: Deciding Where to Go
Korea has two main levels of medical care:
Korean | Pronunciation | What It Is |
의원 | uiwon | small clinic (for colds, minor issues) |
종합병원 | jonghap-byeongwon | general hospital (serious stuff) |
For a cold, stomach bug, or minor injury, go to a 의원 (small clinic). They're everywhere, wait times are short, and a visit typically costs ₩5,000–15,000 with Korean health insurance. Even without insurance, costs are reasonable by international standards.
Look for signs that say 내과 (naegwa, internal medicine) for general illness, or 이비인후과 (ibiin-hugwa, ear-nose-throat) for cold symptoms.
Step 2: At the Clinic
When you arrive, the receptionist will ask:
"어디 아프세요?" (Eodi apeuseyo?) — "Where does it hurt?" / "What's wrong?"
Here's how to describe common symptoms:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
감기 | gamgi | cold |
열이 나요 | yeori nayo | I have a fever |
두통이 있어요 | dutong-i isseoyo | I have a headache |
배가 아파요 | baega apayo | My stomach hurts |
목이 아파요 | mogi apayo | My throat hurts |
기침이 나요 | gichimi nayo | I'm coughing |
콧물이 나요 | konmuri nayo | I have a runny nose |
설사해요 | seolsahaeyo | I have diarrhea |
어지러워요 | eojireoweoyo | I'm dizzy |
The simple pattern: [body part] + 아파요 (apayo, it hurts)
•
머리 아파요 (meori apayo) — My head hurts
•
배 아파요 (bae apayo) — My stomach hurts
•
이 아파요 (i apayo) — My tooth hurts
Real moment: You wake up in your hotel with a terrible cold. You find a nearby 내과 clinic. The receptionist asks what's wrong. You say: "목이 아파요. 기침도 나요." (My throat hurts. I'm also coughing.) You're in.
Step 3: Talking to the Doctor
The doctor might ask:
"언제부터 아팠어요?" (Eonjebuteo apasseoyo?) — "Since when have you been sick?"
Useful answers:
•
"어제부터요." (Eojebuteoyo.) — "Since yesterday."
•
"이틀 전부터요." (Iteul jeonbuteoyo.) — "Since two days ago."
•
"오늘 아침부터요." (Oneul achimbuteoyo.) — "Since this morning."
The doctor might say:
•
"입 벌려 보세요." (Ip beollyeo boseyo.) — "Open your mouth."
•
"심호흡 하세요." (Simhoheup haseyo.) — "Take a deep breath."
•
"주사 맞으실래요?" (Jusa madeusilraeyo?) — "Would you like an injection?"
The Korean Shot Culture
Here's something that surprises many foreigners: Korean doctors love injections. Got a cold? They might offer a shot. Stomach flu? Shot. Even hangovers have their own vitamin injection (비타민 주사, bitamin jusa).
The logic: injections deliver medicine faster than pills. Koreans trust them and often prefer them for quicker relief.
If you're comfortable with it, the shot is usually effective and fast-acting. If you'd rather have pills:
"주사 말고 약으로 주세요." (Jusa malgo yageuro juseyo.) — "Instead of a shot, please give me medicine."
No judgment either way.
Step 4: At the Pharmacy
After your clinic visit, you'll receive a 처방전 (prescription). Take it to the nearest 약국 (pharmacy) — usually right next door or across the street from the clinic.
At the counter:
"처방전 있어요." (Cheobangjon isseoyo.) — "I have a prescription."
"처방전 있어요." (Cheobangjon isseoyo.) — "I have a prescription."
The pharmacist will prepare your medicine (usually in individually wrapped daily packets) and explain the dosage:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
하루에 세 번 | harue se beon | three times a day |
식후에 드세요 | sikhu-e deuseyo | take after meals |
식전에 드세요 | sikjeon-e deuseyo | take before meals |
For over-the-counter medicine (no prescription needed):
Korean | What to Say |
Cold medicine | "감기약 있어요?" (Gamgi-yak isseoyo?) |
Headache medicine | "두통약 주세요." (Dutong-yak juseyo.) |
Stomach medicine | "소화제 주세요." (Sohwaje juseyo.) |
Band-aid | "반창고 주세요." (Banchanggo juseyo.) |
Pharmacies in Korea are marked with a green cross sign and are everywhere — especially near subway stations and clinics.
Good to Know
Korean healthcare is affordable. A clinic visit with national health insurance costs ₩5,000–15,000. Medicine is usually ₩3,000–10,000. Even without insurance, a basic clinic visit rarely exceeds ₩30,000.
Bring your insurance card (if you have Korean health insurance — 국민건강보험). If you're a tourist, you'll pay full price but it's still reasonable. Keep receipts for your travel insurance claims.
Clinics are everywhere. In Korean cities, you're never far from a clinic. Look for buildings with medical floor directories — it's common to have multiple clinics stacked in one building (dermatology on 3rd floor, dentistry on 4th, internal medicine on 5th).
Pharmacists in Korea are knowledgeable. For minor issues, you can sometimes skip the clinic entirely and describe your symptoms to the pharmacist. They can recommend appropriate over-the-counter medication.
Quick Phrase Summary
Situation | What to Say |
Arriving at clinic | "감기에 걸린 것 같아요." (I think I have a cold.) |
Describing pain | "[body part] 아파요." |
When it started | "어제부터요." (Since yesterday.) |
Preferring medicine over injection | "주사 말고 약으로 주세요." |
At pharmacy | "처방전 있어요." |
Asking for OTC medicine | "[symptom]약 있어요?" |
Asking about side effects | "부작용 있어요?" (Are there side effects?) |
Real moment 2: You've been in Korea for a week and your allergies are acting up — runny nose, sneezy, itchy eyes. You don't want to go to a clinic for allergies, so you walk into a 약국 (yakguk, pharmacy) near your hotel. You say "코가 막히고 재채기가 나요. 알레르기인 것 같아요." (Koga makhigo jaechaegiga nayo. Allereugi-in geot gatayo. — "My nose is stuffy and I'm sneezing. I think it's allergies.") The pharmacist nods knowingly — spring allergy season (봄 알레르기, bom allereugi) is a national event in Korea. She hands you antihistamines and a nasal spray, explains "하루에 한 번, 아침에 드세요" (Harue han beon, achime deuseyo — "Once a day, take it in the morning"), and charges you ₩8,000. The whole interaction took three minutes. You feel better by lunch.
Emergency Numbers
Number | What It's For |
119 | Fire / Ambulance / Emergency |
112 | Police |
1339 | Medical emergency hotline (has English service) |
1345 | Immigration / Foreigner assistance |
If you need an ambulance, call 119 and say "응급이에요!" (Eunggeupieyo! — "It's an emergency!") followed by your location. Many 119 operators have access to interpretation services for foreign callers.
Korean healthcare runs like clockwork. The wait times are short, the costs are low, and the process is straightforward. Knowing these phrases won't make getting sick fun — but it will make getting better a lot easier.