{"id":56,"date":"2026-07-29T02:13:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T02:13:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/?p=56"},"modified":"2026-07-29T02:13:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T02:13:44","slug":"korea-pharmacy-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/korea-pharmacy-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Pharmacy Guide: How to Use Pharmacies &amp; Common Medicines in Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Visiting a pharmacy in Korea is simple once you understand how the system works. Pharmacies are everywhere, the staff is helpful, and many common medications are available without a prescription. For foreigners, knowing what you can buy\u2014and how to ask for it\u2014makes daily life much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide explains how Korean pharmacies operate, what medicines you can buy over the counter, and how to handle prescriptions from hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"657\" src=\"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-1024x657.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-58\" srcset=\"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-1024x657.png 1024w, https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-768x493.png 768w, https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-440x282.png 440w, https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1-680x436.png 680w, https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Korean-Pharmacy-Guide-1.png 1069w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udc8a Types of Pharmacies in Korea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korea has two main types of pharmacies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">1) General Pharmacies (\uc57d\uad6d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are the most common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can buy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cold medicine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pain relievers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digestive aids<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allergy medication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eye drops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ointments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bandages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">General pharmacies are usually open during normal business hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> 2) Hospital-Linked Pharmacies (\ucc98\ubc29\uc804 \uc57d\uad6d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Located near hospitals and clinics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These pharmacies specialize in filling prescriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll often see several pharmacies clustered around a hospital\u2014this is normal in Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udd52 Pharmacy Hours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most pharmacies operate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Weekdays: 9 AM \u2013 7 PM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saturdays: 9 AM \u2013 2 PM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sundays\/Holidays: Closed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in busy areas, you can find:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>24-hour pharmacies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Late-night pharmacies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Search \u201c\uc57d\uad6d\u201d on KakaoMap or Naver Map to find nearby options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\uddfe How to Buy Medicine Without a Prescription<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korea allows many medications to be sold over the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You simply tell the pharmacist your symptoms, and they will recommend the right product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Useful phrases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cI have a cold.\u201d \u2192 \uac10\uae30\uc608\uc694<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI have a headache.\u201d \u2192 \ub450\ud1b5 \uc788\uc5b4\uc694<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cMy stomach hurts.\u201d \u2192 \ubc30 \uc544\ud30c\uc694<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI have allergies.\u201d \u2192 \uc54c\ub7ec\uc9c0 \uc788\uc5b4\uc694<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cI need something for digestion.\u201d \u2192 \uc18c\ud654\uc81c \ud544\uc694\ud574\uc694<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pharmacists in Korea are knowledgeable and often ask follow-up questions to give you the right medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\udd27 Common Over-the-Counter Medicines in Korea<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the medicines foreigners buy most often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83c\udf21\ufe0f 1. Cold &amp; Flu Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korean cold medicine usually targets multiple symptoms at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Popular options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Panpyrin (\ud310\ud53c\ub9b0) \u2013 fever, aches, congestion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tayno (\ud0c0\uc774\ub178) \u2013 cold symptoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coldaewon (\ucf5c\ub300\uc6d0) \u2013 cold &amp; flu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are strong and effective, but can make you sleepy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\udd15 2. Pain Relievers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are widely available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brufen (\ubd80\ub8e8\ud39c) \u2013 ibuprofen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tylenol (\ud0c0\uc774\ub808\ub180) \u2013 acetaminophen<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tylenol is extremely popular and often sells out during flu season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\udd22 3. Digestive Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korean digestive medicine is very effective and comes in many forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Popular options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gasin tablets (\uac00\uc2a4\uba85) \u2013 bloating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dongkook enzyme (\ub3d9\uad6d \uc18c\ud654\uc81c) \u2013 indigestion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bearse (\ubca0\uc544\uc81c) \u2013 enzyme supplement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are commonly used after heavy meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\udd27 4. Allergy Medicine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korea has strong seasonal allergies, so antihistamines are easy to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clarityn (\ud074\ub77c\ub9ac\ud2f4)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allegra (\uc54c\ub808\uadf8\ub77c)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zyrtec (\uc9c0\ub974\ud14d)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Non-drowsy options are widely available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>\ud83e\ude79 5. Ointments &amp; First Aid<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Popular items:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Madecassol (\ub9c8\ub370\uce74\uc194) \u2013 wound healing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fucidin (\ud6c4\uc2dc\ub518) \u2013 antibiotic ointment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Betadine (\ud3ec\ube44\ub3c8) \u2013 disinfectant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bandages (\ubc34\ub4dc)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Madecassol is especially famous among foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udc40 6. Eye Drops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brands:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tears Again (\uc778\uacf5\ub208\ubb3c) \u2013 dry eyes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eye2O (\uc544\uc774\ud22c\uc624) \u2013 irritation relief<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eye drops are inexpensive and easy to find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\uddd1\u200d\u2695\ufe0f Prescription Medicine (\ucc98\ubc29\uc804)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you visit a hospital or clinic, you\u2019ll receive a prescription slip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take it to any pharmacy near the hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What you need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prescription slip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ARC or passport<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pharmacist will prepare your medication in small labeled packets, often divided by time of day (morning, afternoon, evening). This is very common in Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udcb0 Costs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Korean medication is generally affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over-the-counter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cold medicine: 5,000\u201312,000 KRW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pain relievers: 3,000\u20138,000 KRW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digestive aids: 3,000\u201310,000 KRW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allergy meds: 7,000\u201315,000 KRW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prescription meds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With insurance: 3,000\u201310,000 KRW<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Without insurance: 10,000\u201330,000 KRW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prices vary depending on the brand and dosage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udcf1 Useful Apps for Pharmacy Searches<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>KakaoMap \u2013 find nearby pharmacies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Naver Map \u2013 check hours and reviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Google Reviews \u2013 find English-friendly pharmacies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NHIS app \u2013 check insurance coverage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83e\udded What a Typical Pharmacy Visit Feels Like<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living in Korea, a pharmacy visit usually goes like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f383d393 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You walk in and describe your symptoms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The pharmacist recommends a product<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They explain dosage clearly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You pay quickly (card or mobile payment)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You leave within 3\u20135 minutes<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The entire process is fast, simple, and efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83c\udf10 Why Foreigners Appreciate Korean Pharmacies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Easy access<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helpful pharmacists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Affordable medication<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear instructions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong over-the-counter options<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many foreigners say Korean pharmacies feel \u201corganized and friendly,\u201d and that the convenience makes daily life much easier.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visiting a pharmacy in Korea is simple once you understand how the system works. Pharmacies are everywhere, the staff is helpful, and many common medications are available without a prescription. For foreigners, knowing what you can buy\u2014and how to ask for it\u2014makes daily life much easier. This guide explains how Korean pharmacies operate, what medicines you can buy over the counter, and how to handle prescriptions from hospitals. \ud83d\udc8a Types of Pharmacies in Korea Korea has two main types of pharmacies: 1) General Pharmacies (\uc57d\uad6d) These are the most common. You can buy: General pharmacies are usually open during normal business hours. 2) Hospital-Linked Pharmacies (\ucc98\ubc29\uc804 \uc57d\uad6d) Located near hospitals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":58,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[30,36,37,29,38],"class_list":["post-56","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-korea-healthcare","tag-korea-pharmacy","tag-korean-medicine-guide","tag-living-in-korea","tag-otc-medicine-korea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56\/revisions\/59"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koreamedihub.com\/ja\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}