Essential informations for foreigners receiving medical care in Korea

Receiving medical care in Korea may not be like the care that you receive in your home country. It is recommended to bring your medical records and prescriptions with you. Most doctors in your home country can put these records on CD so it is easier to carry.  Keep in mind that Korea has most of your prescriptions readily available at a much cheaper cost.  It might be a different kind of name so be sure to ask your doctor.  Also a lot of the medications here are not FDA approved (US Food and Drug Administration).  You can check on sites like webmd.

Medical Emergency  Information Line 1339
Emergency Medical Information Center (1339) has bilingual staff that speak Korean plus English, Japanese, or Chinese so they can interpret for you if you need help communicating with Korean medical staff while you are at a clinic or hospital. The staff at 1339 can also give medical advice over the phone and directly connect you with emergency services when necessary. So if you call and describe your symptoms, 1339 can let you know what kind of treatment you need, and, if it is deemed serious, immediately connect you with emergency services.

NOTE THAT:

1. Koreans do not have the same sense of privacy that Westerners do, so don’t be embarrassed if the doctor asks to examine you in front of other patients. If this is an issue for you, you can ask to have a screen put up. If possible, the staff will usually try to comply.
2. International medical insurance is not recognized as a form of payment. You will have to pay your medical bill in full before you can start receiving treatment. Once you receive your ARC card; that is your health insurance card.  If you are here with the US Military, your employer will authorize care first.
3. If you are admitted to the hospital through the international clinic, your bill will likely be higher than if you had gone directly to emergency or been admitted by one of the hospital’s other departments.
4. As in many Asian countries, family members are generally expected to provide hospital patients with much of the non-medical care (bathing, feeding, etc.) that is usually provided by nursing staff in other areas of the world. Most families bring food to the hospital and sleep on the floor or sofa in the patient’s room.  It is possible to hire private nurses, but they unusually have to be given very specific instructions and they may not speak English. Some hospitals have VIP suites that resemble 5-star hotel rooms and may even include sleeping areas for family, a fully equipped kitchen, and more.
5. Korean physicians sometimes give the worst case prognosis first and then go on to the less serious ones. Don’t panic, or think you’ve been misdiagnosed. It’s just a question of style and culture.

English speaking Medical Referral

The Seoul Metropolitan City Government runs the Seoul Global Center, which operates a 24-hour a day medical referral service for foreigners. Between the hours of 20:00-08:00 the service should only be contacted in an emergency. The staff has medical training and they speak English; they can provide advice on medical facilities and services.  Please call 010-4769-8212 or 010-8750-8212

Hospital’s and Medical Facilities with an English Speaking Staff

Seoul area

Yonsei Severance Hospital

Seoul National University Hospital

Samsung Hospital

International Clinic

Suwon area

Ajou University Hospital

Cheonan area

Dankook University Hospital

Specialized Care

Mental Health

Mental Health.  Many of the above hospitals and clinic’s above can also provide services.

Dermatology

A dermatologist can be found here: Dermatology.  Many of the hospitals above also have a dermatology department.

 Gynecology

English speaking dermatologists can be found here: Gynecology or check with the hospitals above if they have a department.

Dentist

US Board Certified dentists are found: here and here