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Health Care in South Korea

Vaccination Requirements
Medicine
Hospitals

Some physicians and hospitals will not accept overseas health insurance and therefore may require you to pay up front; however, if you or your employer pay taxes then you are entitled to health insurance through your employer.

The American embassy keeps lists of insurance agencies willing to provide policies for Americans residing in Korea and English-speaking medical and dental care providers.

Vaccination Requirements

Presently, no vaccinations are required to enter South Korea, but you should be sure your rabies and tetanus/diptheria shots are up-to-date, and vaccination for hepatitis A is strongly recommended. Additionally, if you will be living in or spending significant time traveling in rural areas, a vaccination for Japanese encephalitis is recommended. If you plan to do much traveling around Asia, it would be wise to get cholera and yellow fever inoculations.

Contact the Traveler's Clinic at a local university health center or a doctor who specializes in travel medicine to ensure that there are no new health risks. Another good source of up-to-the-minute information on vaccination requirements and disease information is the International Traveler's Hotline in Atlanta, which is sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: (404) 332-4559. This service is regularly updated for each country.

Medicine

Korean-made drugs are generally safe, sanitary, and inexpensive - even without insurance. They are available in pharmacies like those in the United States or Canada. Be aware that for problems as minor as a cold or rash you may be given a shot or series of shots.

Some treatments require that you go to a clinic for a shot and medicine every day for a week or more. Should you need to visit a doctor, bring a Korean friend with you to ask questions.

Hospitals

English is spoken at some hospitals in South Korea, especially in international clinics and hospitals in larger cities. Below are hospitals recommended for English speakers:

Inchon

Chung-ang Gil General Hospital
172 Kuwol-dong
Nam-gu
Inchon, Korea
(032) 460-3114

Kwangju

Chunnam University Hospital
8 Hak 1-dong
Tong-gu
Kwangju, Korea
(062) 220-5114

Pusan

Pusan National University Hospital
10 Ami-dong, 1-ga
So-gu
Pusan, Korea
(051) 254-0171

Seoul

Asian Medical Center
388-1, P'ungnap-dong
Songp'a-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 480-3025 or (02) 480-3026

Ewah Woman's University Hospital
70, Chongno 6-ga
Chongno-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 762-5061

Gangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Medical Center
74 Jung-gu
Seoul, Soul-t'ukpyolsi , Korea
(080) 533-0911

Kangnam General Hospital
171-1 Samsong-dong
Kangnam-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 554-9011

Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital
948-1 Taerim-dong
Yongdungp'o-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 833-3781

National Medical Center
18-79 Ulchiro 6-ga
Chung-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 265-9131

Samsung Hospital
Irwon-dong, Kangnam-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 3410-2114

Seoul National University Hospital
28, Yongon-dong
Chongno-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 760-2114

Seoul Red Cross Hospital
164 P'yong-dong
Chogno-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 737-4581

Severance Hospital
134, Shinch'on-dong
Sodaemun-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 361-5114

St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College
62 Youido-dong
Yongdungp'o-gu
Seoul, Korea
(02) 789-1114

Yonsei University Hospital
International Health Care Center
(02) 361-6540 or (02) 392-3404

Taegu

Kyongbuk National University Hospital
50 Samdok-dong, 2-ga
Chung-gu
Taegu, Korea
(053) 422-1141