Korea Late-Night Pharmacy and Emergency Room Guide: How to Stay Calm If You Get Sick at Night (2026)

It can be very confusing to suddenly develop a fever or stomachache while enjoying your trip to Korea, especially late at night when pharmacies and hospitals are closed. But don't worry. Korea has one of the most efficient healthcare systems in the world, with well-established 24-hour medical services.

In this guide, we have compiled all the medical information foreign tourists need in case of an emergency as of 2026.

🚨 1. Requesting Help in an Emergency (Phone Numbers)

There are three numbers you should memorize first. All of these numbers support foreign language services (English, Chinese, Japanese, etc.).

• 119 (Ambulance/Fire Department): Call this number in a life-threatening emergency. If you say "English, please" when the call connects, you will be connected to a real-time interpretation service. (Ambulance use is free.)

• 1339 (Emergency Medical Information Center): A 24-hour hotline for finding the nearest emergency room or receiving basic medical consultation.

• 1330 (Korea Travel Hotline): Useful for general interpretation, directions, or travel inquiries beyond just medical needs.

[!TIP]
KTravelKit Emergency Taxi Card: If you need to show your current location or situation to a driver in Korean, try using the KTravelKit Emergency Card. It is a useful digital card to help you communicate in emergencies.

💊 2. When You Need Medicine Late at Night: Late-Night Pharmacies & Convenience Stores

For minor symptoms, you may not need to visit a hospital.

Convenience Store Basic Medicine

24-hour convenience stores like CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven have an 'Emergency Household Medicine' section. You can purchase the following medications directly:

• Fever & Pain Relievers: Tylenol, Children's Brufen Syrup

• Cold Medicine: Panpyrin, Pancol

• Digestive Aid: Bearse, Festal

• Others: Pain Relief Patches

Public Late-Night Pharmacy

If you need high-dosage medication not available at convenience stores, you must find a Public Late-Night Pharmacy. Most operate until 1:00 AM.

• How to find one: Search for "심야약국" (Late-night pharmacy) or "24시 약국" (24h pharmacy) on Naver Map or KakaoMap apps.

• Tip: Late-night surcharges (approximately 30%) may be added to medicine prices after 6:00 PM or on weekends.

🏥 3. Emergency Room (ER) and Foreigner-Friendly Hospitals

If you have severe pain or injury, you should go to the emergency room immediately. It is called 'Eung-geup-sil' in Korean, and most are open 24/7.

Map App Tips

Copy and paste the following keyword into the search bar of the Naver Map app:

응급실 (Emergency Room)

Major Hospitals in Seoul (with International Healthcare Centers)

The following hospitals operate International Healthcare Centers where English is spoken, making them ideal for foreign tourists.

🗣️ 4. Practical Korean Phrases for the Hospital

Try using these expressions to explain your symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist. If you need more detailed phrases for various situations, you can check them with audio at KTravelKit Survival Phrases.

Conclusion

Being sick in a strange country can be a lonely experience, but Korea's dense medical safety net is there to protect you. If you have any regular medications, remember to bring them with you, and in an emergency, do not hesitate to seek help by calling 119 or 1339.

Recommended Reads:

• Must-have Apps for Korea Travel: From Navigation to Delivery

• How to Fix Kakao T Card Payment Errors: Tips for Direct Payment to Drivers

• Major Seoul Tourist Attraction Maps and Usage Tips