1. Korea's medical system
1) Medical system
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Korea's medical system is broadly divided into three stages.
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In order to use a tertiary medical institution, which is a general hospital, a referral letter issued by a primary (clinic level) or secondary (hospital level) medical institution is required. If a patient uses a tertiary medical institution directly without going through a primary or secondary medical institution, the initial consultation fee burden increases.
The only cases in which tertiary care institutions can be used without a referral letter are emergency patients, obstetrics, dentistry, rehabilitation medicine, family medicine, and hemophilia patients.
2) How to use medical institutions
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How to use primary care institutions
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How to use secondary medical institutions
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How to use tertiary medical institutions
3) Other medical institutions and places to purchase medicines
Health Center
A public health center is a public health institution established in each district to promote the health of local residents and prevent and manage diseases.
Service Target
Local governments select those who need health management services from visiting public health centers among socially, culturally, and economically vulnerable groups who have difficulty using health promotion services, and are at risk for health and disease. Examples include multicultural families, North Korean defectors, elderly people living alone, local children's centers (children in poverty), youth shelters or unauthorized facilities, and those who are referred by other departments within the public health center or community organizations.
Type of service
Health screening (identification of health behaviors and health risk factors)
Management of chronic diseases (metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, etc.) and prevention of complications
Rehabilitation of disabled people living at home and management of health issues by life cycle (newborns, infants, pregnant women, adults, elderly, etc.)
Multicultural Family and North Korean Defector Health Management Services
Conduct health education to promote health
※If necessary, you can get tested for tuberculosis by visiting a public health center with your alien registration card.
Oriental Medicine Hospital
Oriental medicine differs from Western medicine, including acupuncture and herbal medicine. Oriental medicine strengthens the immune system, relieves pain and symptoms, and restores vitality and promotes metabolism. The following are Oriental medicine hospitals that treat foreigners. (Based on Seoul)
Kyunghee University Oriental Medicine Hospital
Address: 23 Gyeonghui-daero, Dongdaemun-gu
Clinic hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM-5:30 PM Sat 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Contact: ☏02-958-8114/9988 km.khmc.or.kr/kr/main.do
Jaseng Oriental Medicine Hospital Address: 858 Eonju-ro, Gangnam-gu
Clinic hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-6:00pm
Contact: ☏1577-0007, www.jaseng.co.kr
pharmacy
You can easily find 'medicine' and 'pharmacy' signs around you, and in addition to hospital prescription drugs, you can also buy general medicines. General medicines that can be purchased without a prescription include digestive aids, nutritional supplements, vitamins, health drinks, and comprehensive cold medicine, while prescription drugs, antibiotics, hormones, and painkillers can only be purchased with a prescription. You cannot purchase medicine with a prescription issued by a hospital in your home country, and if you have an allergic reaction to any of the ingredients of a medicine, you should inform the doctor in advance to prevent side effects due to incorrect prescriptions. It is also advisable to prepare enough of the compounded medicine you are taking before entering the country.
Holiday Pharmacy
Most pharmacies are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Instead, you can purchase medicine at pharmacies designated as holiday pharmacies. For detailed information, such as operating dates, operating hours, and locations, please visit the holiday pharmacy website (www.pharm114.or.kr [Korean]).
Medical Treatment
※ This content was written with reference to the publication ‘Seoul Living Guide for Foreigners, Korean Edition’ published by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
3. Health Insurance System
The Korean health insurance system is a social insurance system operated by a single insurer targeting the entire population, the National Health Insurance (NHI). Insurance premiums are calculated based on income and asset holdings.
Tip. National Health Insurance Corporation The National Health Insurance Corporation is an organization established to promote social security by providing insurance services for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, childbirth, death, and health promotion of diseases and injuries of the Korean people. There are a total of 30 National Health Insurance branches in Seoul. You can use the branch in your area of residence.
Contact: ☏1577-1000 (English consultation 033-811-2000) www.nhis.or.kr [Korean, Chinese, English, Japanese, Vietnamese]
1) Types of health insurance and eligibility requirements
National health insurance is divided into two types: workplace insurance and regional insurance.
Work insurance
If your residency qualification is recognized by relevant laws, you are subject to mandatory employment insurance. However, in the case of short-term foreign workers (D-3) and visiting workers (H-2), you may be exempt from paying long-term care insurance premiums for the elderly since you are expected to return to your home country after the end of your stay.
Local Insurance
2. Medical services for foreigners
1) International Medical Center (based on Seoul)
2) Specialized hospitals by department (based on Seoul)
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Emergency Support Center
119 Safety Report Center
In case of an emergency, call 119. The 119 rescue team provides immediate services, such as transporting patients to nearby hospitals by ambulance. The 119 ambulance service is provided free of charge. When a foreigner calls 119, they are connected to an interpretation service provider and communicate via a three-way call. When using a mobile phone, dial 119 without the area code, and when calling 119 from a public phone, press the red emergency call button and then 119. To receive the 24-hour online emergency rescue service, fill out the application form (Korean and English available) and fax it to 1544-9119 or text it to '119'. For more information, visit the 119 website (www.119.go.kr [Korean]).
※ When using a medical institution or hospital ambulance other than a 119 ambulance, a distance-based fee is charged. If a doctor, nurse, or paramedic is riding, an additional fee is charged, and an additional fee is charged between midnight and 4 a.m.
Medical Korea Support Center
The Medical Korea Support Center is a one-stop medical service provider for foreign patients. It offers a variety of services, including consultations and medical institution guidance in English, Chinese, Russian, and Japanese, as well as medical interpreter connection support in cases where multilingual interpretation services are needed.
※Inquiries ☏1577-7129 85 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
International SOS
International SOS is a membership-based service where medical professionals provide rescue, evacuation, and repatriation services in emergency situations 24 hours a day in English, Japanese, and French.
※Inquiries ☏02-3140-1700 (24 hours), www.internationalsos.co.kr [English]
3) Medical services for the underprivileged, including foreign workers
Support target
Foreign workers and their children (under 18 years of age), immigrants through marriage before acquiring citizenship and their children, refugees and their children, etc., who are not eligible for medical benefits under various medical insurance systems such as health insurance and medical aid.
Support
Hospitalization and surgery (including same-day outpatient surgery)
Prenatal examination: In the case of examinations according to prenatal examination, examinations and ultrasounds eligible for medical benefits according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare notice are supported.
Support Contents
90% of total medical expenses incurred from admission to discharge are supported, and only 10% is borne by the patient. Support is available within the range of 5 million won per time.
If the total medical expenses per session exceed 5 million won and the same person receives more than one surgery, the medical institution must submit a report on the reason for the excess medical expenses to the city/provincial department after reviewing the report.
Support type
Cash or in kind
Application Process and Contact Information
Visiting medical institutions conducting business and verifying qualifications, etc. (can verify medical institutions conducting business through city/province health policy departments) / Health Policy Division 041-635-2644
4) Other medical service institutions
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Ondream Hope Clinic Center
Ondream Hope Medical Center is a medical center established in collaboration between Seoul National University Hospital, the Korean Red Cross, and the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation to help medically underprivileged groups such as multicultural families, foreign workers, and refugees.
Address: 3rd floor, Seoul Red Cross Hospital, 9 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu
Clinic hours: Mon-Fri 9:00am-5:00pm
Contact: ☏02-2002-8683~4 hncenter.or.kr [Korean, English]