Healthcare in Korea for foreigners: health insurance, hospitals and pharmacies

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Korea has fast, widely available and comparatively affordable healthcare, and as a foreign resident you are part of the same national system as everyone else. The parts that confuse newcomers are how insurance enrolment works, which kind of place to go to, and what to do in an emergency.

National Health Insurance (NHIS)

Korea's public health insurance is run by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS, 국민건강보험공단).

Employees are enrolled through their workplace. The premium is split with the employer and taken from your pay.
Everyone else with a registered stay, such as self-employed people or dependants not covered by a spouse, joins as a "local" subscriber and pays a premium based on income and assets.
Since 2019, foreign residents who have stayed in Korea for six months are generally enrolled automatically, whether they asked to be or not. Some visa types join from the day they register: according to the NHIS and university guidance, D-2 students and F-6 marriage visa holders are among them.
If you sign up late, you may be billed for the months you should already have been covered.
Some people with qualifying foreign insurance can apply for an exemption. The conditions are strict, so check with NHIS before relying on it.
Unpaid premiums can affect visa extensions, so keep up with payments.

Rules vary by visa type and change over time. Check the NHIS English website (nhis.or.kr) or call its foreigner helpline, and ask your employer or university's international office.

Clinics or hospitals?

Clinics (의원, uiwon) are small practices run by a specialist doctor: internal medicine (내과), ENT (이비인후과), dermatology (피부과), orthopaedics (정형외과), paediatrics (소아과), and so on. For a cold, a rash or a sprained ankle, go straight to the right clinic. No referral is needed, and you can often be seen the same day.
Hospitals (병원) and general hospitals (종합병원) handle bigger problems and surgery.
Tertiary university hospitals (상급종합병원) are for complex cases. Without a referral (진료의뢰서) from a clinic, you usually pay much more, so start at a clinic unless it is an emergency.

How a visit works

Walk in or book by phone or app. Many clinics have no appointment system; you just wait.
Give your name and your Alien Registration Card at reception so your insurance is applied.
See the doctor. Consultations are often short.
Pay at reception on the way out. With insurance, you pay only your share of the bill.
If you are given a prescription (처방전), take it to a pharmacy.

Pharmacies

Pharmacies (약국, yakguk) are everywhere, usually near clinics. Prescription medicine comes ready-packed into daily doses. Pharmacists can also sell common over-the-counter medicine and give advice. Some basic medicines such as painkillers and cold remedies are sold at convenience stores too. At night and on holidays, look for a pharmacy marked as open late, or check a map app.

International clinics

Many large hospitals in Seoul, Busan and other cities have an international healthcare centre with English-speaking staff who help with appointments and translation. They are a good choice for complicated care or if you are anxious about language. Expect to pay more than at a neighbourhood clinic.

Emergencies

Call 119 for an ambulance. Ask for English and you can be connected to an interpreter.
The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline and the 1345 immigration helpline offer interpretation and can help in a three-way call.
Hospital emergency rooms (응급실) are open 24 hours, but non-urgent cases pay a high fee and may wait.

Costs in general terms

With National Health Insurance, everyday clinic visits and common prescriptions are generally inexpensive compared with many countries. Hospital stays, tests and specialist care cost more, and some treatments are not covered. Many people buy private top-up insurance (실손보험) for the remaining share. Without insurance, you pay the full price, which can add up quickly.

Tips

Keep your Alien Registration Card with you.
Translation apps such as Papago help in a clinic.
Ask for a receipt (영수증) and a doctor's note (진단서 or 소견서) if your employer or insurer needs one.

Have a tip on finding an English-speaking doctor, or a question about NHIS? Share it in the comments.