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A headache, a cold, an upset stomach after too much grilled pork — it happens on every trip, and in Korea it’s an easy fix once you know where to go and what to ask for. The system is a little different from home, so here’s the plain version.
Find the green cross: 약국 (yak-guk)
A pharmacy is a **약국 (yak-guk)**, and they’re everywhere — in shopping districts, near subway stations, and clustered around hospitals and clinics. Look for the word 약 (“medicine”) or a green cross sign.
Two things to plan around:
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- Hours: most open around 9:00 AM and close between 7:00 and 9:00 PM, and many are closed on Sundays. Don’t count on a neighborhood pharmacy late at night.
- The 24/7 backup: convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) carry a small set of “safe household medicines” around the clock — basic painkillers and a few cold/digestive items. It’s limited, but it’ll get you through a 2 AM headache until the pharmacy opens.
What you can buy without a prescription
Plenty of the everyday stuff is over-the-counter. Walk in and ask — you don’t need to know the brand:
- Pain and fever: Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen are easy to get. Pharmacists also often recommend fast-acting local brands like Penzal or Gevorin for headaches.
- Upset stomach: ask for “sohwaje” (소화제). It often comes as a little set — a small medicinal drink plus a couple of pills.
- Colds: ask for “gamgiyak” (감기약) for a runny nose or sore throat. They’ll usually hand you a pre-packed 3-day dose, sorted by morning/afternoon/evening.
- Also OTC: allergy tablets, basic wound care, vitamins, and supplements.
What needs a doctor
This is the key difference from some countries: antibiotics and other prescription drugs are not sold over the counter. If you need those, you’ll first see a doctor at a clinic (병원/의원), get a prescription, and then fill it at the pharmacy. For travelers that usually means a quick clinic visit — generally fast and affordable — before the pharmacy step.
Two small tips
- Bigger pharmacies handle English better. If you’re worried about explaining symptoms, the larger ones near hospitals or in major districts are your best bet — and pointing at the body part plus a translation app gets you a long way.
- Bring enough of your own prescription meds for the whole trip. Matching a foreign prescription to a Korean equivalent is a hassle you don’t want mid-vacation.
For the everyday traveler ailments, though, it’s genuinely simple: find the green cross, name the problem, and you’ll walk out with exactly the little packet you need.
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Sem Kim has lived and worked in Seoul for over a decade. He writes about the practical side of navigating Korea as a foreigner — immigration, transport, local services, and the parts of daily life that guidebooks tend to skip. His work draws on firsthand experience moving through Korean bureaucracy, neighborhoods, and systems that aren’t always designed with international visitors in mind.