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Across Korea · Pharmacies and convenience storesGuidance from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korean Pharmaceutical Association and the emergency medical portal
Most pharmacies in Korea close on Sundays and public holidays. First find an open pharmacy through Pharm114 or E-Gen; for minor symptoms, check the stock of designated medicines at a registered 24-hour convenience store.
Sundays and public holidays
Most Korean pharmacies close. Unlike in Japan, there are very few drugstores that stay open on Sundays.
Convenience-store medicines
The statutory list has 13 items: 5 fever/pain medicines, 4 digestive medicines, 2 cold medicines and 2 patches. Tylenol Tablets 160 mg and Children's Tylenol Tablets 80 mg are discontinued, so 11 items are usually available in practice.
In an emergency, call 119 immediately instead of going through another helpline. For minor symptoms, use a local clinic on a weekday; at night or on holidays, check E-Gen for open hospitals and ERs.
In an emergency
Call 119 immediately. Ambulance transport is free for foreigners too, and Japanese or English interpretation can be connected, but hospital treatment is billed separately. Do not delay calling 119 by going through 1330 or 120.
Minor symptoms
A local clinic is faster and less expensive for minor symptoms during weekday daytime. At night or on holidays, search E-Gen for open hospitals and ERs.