Emergency Medical Contacts — hospitals, pharmacies, interpreters
If you are sick or injured, read this top to bottom. Life-threatening: call 119. Need an interpreter: 1330. Anything else: call the host. A printed copy is posted inside the house.
Emergency numbers · 24 h · free
How to call an ambulance if you don't speak Korean
- Call 119 and say “English, please” (or your language). An interpreter joins the call. Stay on the line.
- If that fails, call 1330 and press the SOS option. The operator calls 119 for you and interprets live.
- Read the address below exactly as written. The ambulance comes to the street in front.
- Give the symptoms, age, whether the person is conscious, and any medication. Bring passport and travel-insurance papers.
249 Jong-no, Jong-no-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 종로 249)Jong-no 5-ga Station (종로5가역) Exit 4 · next to Kyunghee Seowon (경희서원)
Emergency rooms open 24 hours
| Hospital | ER | Main International clinic | From here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원) 101 Daehak-ro, Jong-no-gu (종로구 대학로 101) |
02-2072-3257 ER |
02-2072-0505 Main · Intl |
Taxi 5–7 min · Walk 20 min |
| Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (강북삼성병원) 29 Saemunan-ro, Jong-no-gu (종로구 새문안로 29) |
02-2001-2892 ER |
1599-8114 Main · Intl |
Taxi 10–15 min |
| Seoul Red Cross Hospital (서울적십자병원) 9 Saemunan-ro, Jong-no-gu (종로구 새문안로 9) · Seodaemun Station (서대문역) Exit 4 |
02-2002-8888 ER |
02-2002-8000 Main · Intl |
Taxi 10–15 min |
SNUH has a separate pediatric ER and an International Healthcare Center (02-2072-0505) with English-speaking staff. ER visits are costly; for minor symptoms try a clinic or pharmacy below first.
Pharmacies
Dananum Pharmacy (다나눔종합약국) · Seoul public late-night pharmacy
1F, 251 Jong-no, Jong-no-gu · 02-3673-3674
Daily 13:00 – 01:00 (past midnight)
Right next door (1F, 251 Jong-no). Open until 1 a.m.
Ildeung Pharmacy (일등약국) · public late-night pharmacy
35 Gyeonggyojang-gil, Jong-no-gu (next to Kangbuk Samsung Hospital) · 02-723-7581
Daily 08:30 – 01:00 (past midnight)
Next to Kangbuk Samsung Hospital — handy if you go to that ER.
Daytime pharmacies nearby
In the daytime there are many pharmacies along Jong-no 5-ga (the “pharmacy street”), right on the main road.
Holiday/night pharmacies: pharm114.or.kr. 24-h convenience stores sell basic OTC medicine (painkillers, digestives).
Clinics · Public health center
Jong-no-gu Public Health Center (종로구보건소)
36 Jahamun-ro 19-gil, Jong-no-gu · 02-2148-3520
Weekdays 09:00–18:00 (closed 12–13). Low-cost basic care and vaccinations.
Finding the nearest clinic
In a map app search 내과 (internal medicine: cold, stomach), 정형외과 (orthopedics: sprain, fracture), 피부과 (skin), 치과 (dental). Most open weekdays 09–18 and Saturday morning.
e-gen.or.kr lists hospitals and pharmacies open right now.
When language is the problem
Call 1330 and ask for a three-way call with the clinic. The host (02-762-4747) can help you book and talk to the clinic.
Pay on the spot (cards accepted); keep receipts for travel insurance.