VISITOR GUIDE

Using a pharmacy in Korea: a practical guide for visitors

In Korea, most medicines are sold in pharmacies (약국, yakguk) run by licensed pharmacists. This guide explains what you can buy, when you need a doctor, how to explain what you need, and where to find a pharmacy at night or on a Sunday. It is general information from Dongsi Pharmacy, a neighborhood pharmacy in Jongno 5-ga, Seoul.

Last updated Sep 25, 2026

Quick answers

Look for the sign 약 (yak). Pharmacies are run by licensed pharmacists, and asking the pharmacist is free.
Many everyday medicines are sold over the counter after a short talk with the pharmacist. Prescription-only medicines need a prescription from a doctor in Korea.
Convenience stores open 24 hours may sell only 13 designated household medicines: one pack per product per purchase, and not to children under 12. Health-and-beauty stores such as Olive Young do not sell medicines.
At night, look for a public late-night pharmacy (usually open until 1 a.m.). On Sundays and public holidays fewer pharmacies open, so check a map app or call ahead.
Tell the pharmacist your symptoms, allergies and any medicines you take. A photo of the package showing the active ingredient helps most.
In an emergency, call 119. For interpretation, call the Korea Travel Helpline 1330 (+82-2-1330 from a foreign phone).

What a Korean pharmacy sells

Korean pharmacies sell over-the-counter medicines, quasi-drugs such as masks and bandages, health supplements and pharmacy skincare, and some also stock pet medicines. Pharmacists answer questions whether or not you buy anything.

Large pharmacies in busy areas keep a wide range of Korean pharmacy skincare, which is why many visitors come for cosmetics as well as medicines. See the Korean skincare we carry.

Over-the-counter or prescription-only?

Korea sorts medicines into two groups: general medicines (일반의약품), which pharmacies can sell over the counter, and specialty medicines (전문의약품), which need a doctor's prescription.

The pharmacist chooses a suitable over-the-counter product with you and explains how to take it. Expect a few questions: that is normal, and it is for your safety.

A medicine sold over the counter in your country may be prescription-only in Korea, and the other way round. The same active ingredient is also often sold under a different brand name.

For prescription-only medicines, see a doctor at a local clinic (의원, uiwon); pharmacies fill prescriptions issued in Korea. If you take a regular medicine, carry your prescription or a doctor's note in English so that a doctor here can see what you take.

Look up Korean over-the-counter medicines in English: names, active ingredients and amounts from Korea's official drug database.

Medicines at convenience stores and beauty stores

Convenience stores that are open 24 hours a day, all year round, may sell a short list of 13 designated household medicines: some pain and fever relievers, cold medicines, digestives and pain-relief patches.

One pack per product per purchase.
Not sold to children under 12.
There is no pharmacist in the store. If you are unsure whether a medicine suits you, ask at a pharmacy.

Health-and-beauty stores such as Olive Young sell cosmetics, supplements and personal-care items, but not medicines.

How to ask the pharmacist

Translation apps work well for short questions. Before you go, have this ready:

Your symptoms and how long you have had them.
Who the medicine is for: an adult or a child (for a child, their age and weight).
Any allergy to a medicine.
Other medicines or supplements you take.
Whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Long-term conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or kidney or liver disease.

A photo of a medicine you use at home is the quickest way to explain. The active ingredient (the generic name, for example ibuprofen) is the same worldwide, while brand names change from country to country.

Ask how and when to take the medicine and for how many days at most. Write it down or take a photo, and keep the Korean box and leaflet until you have finished the medicine.

Opening hours, nights, Sundays and holidays

Most pharmacies open on weekdays and Saturdays and close in the evening. Far fewer open on Sundays and public holidays.

Public late-night pharmacies (공공심야약국) are designated pharmacies that stay open from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Seoul has 40 of them, spread across all 25 districts.
On Sundays and public holidays, duty pharmacies take turns to open. The Korean Pharmaceutical Association lists them at pharm114.or.kr (in Korean), and the national E-Gen finder shows hospitals and pharmacies that are open now.
In Naver Map or Kakao Map, search 약국 and check the opening hours shown, or call ahead.
Incheon and Gimpo airports have pharmacies inside the terminals.

Paying and tax refunds

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

Many pharmacies in tourist areas are registered tax-free shops. For a refund you need your actual passport (not a copy or a photo) and a purchase of at least ₩15,000 on one receipt. At shops that offer an immediate refund, purchases under ₩1,000,000 are refunded at the counter, up to ₩5,000,000 in total during your stay; above that, you claim the refund at the airport. Some items are not eligible.

When to see a doctor or call for help

A pharmacist can suggest an over-the-counter option and tell you when you should see a doctor, but cannot diagnose an illness.

See a doctor if your symptoms are severe, getting worse, or not improving. Small clinics (의원) are common and usually see walk-in patients, and several large hospitals in Seoul have international clinics.

In an emergency, such as trouble breathing, chest pain, a severe allergic reaction or a serious injury, call 119.

The Korea Travel Helpline 1330 (+82-2-1330 from a foreign phone) interprets in English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian.

Online orders and shipping

Korean law does not allow medicines to be sold by mail order or online, so pharmacies cannot ship medicines to you. Medicines are bought in person, at the counter.

Dongsi Pharmacy, Jongno 5-ga

Dongsi Pharmacy has served the neighborhood for over 50 years. It stands on the Jongno 5-ga pharmacy street, Korea's first modern pharmacy street and a Seoul Future Heritage site since 2020, in front of Gwangjang Market.

Address: 202-1 Jongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 종로구 종로 202-1), near Jongno 5-ga Station on Subway Line 1
Hours: Mon–Sat 08:00–19:30 · Sundays (1st and 3rd of the month) 08:00–19:30
Languages: Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese; a Japanese interpreter is on site
Phone: +82-2-2268-4055

Opening hours and directions · Korean OTC medicines · Korean skincare we carry

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy medicine without a prescription in Korea?

Yes. Pharmacies sell general (over-the-counter) medicines for common problems such as colds, pain, indigestion and minor skin problems, after the pharmacist has asked a few questions. Medicines that are prescription-only in Korea need a prescription from a doctor in Korea.

Can I use a prescription from my home country?

Korean pharmacies fill prescriptions issued by doctors in Korea. If you need a prescription-only medicine, see a local clinic and bring your prescription or a doctor's note in English so that the doctor can see what you take.

Do convenience stores in Korea sell medicine?

Only convenience stores open 24 hours, and only 13 designated household medicines: some pain and fever relievers, cold medicines, digestives and pain-relief patches. They sell one pack per product per purchase, and not to children under 12.

Does Olive Young sell medicine?

No. Health-and-beauty stores sell cosmetics, supplements and personal-care items. Medicines are sold in pharmacies.

Are pharmacies in Korea open on Sundays?

Fewer are. Duty pharmacies open on Sundays and public holidays, and public late-night pharmacies stay open until 1 a.m. Check a map app or call ahead. Dongsi Pharmacy opens on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.

Can I get a tax refund at a Korean pharmacy?

Yes, at pharmacies registered as tax-free shops, for eligible purchases of ₩15,000 or more on one receipt. Bring your actual passport.

Do Korean pharmacists speak English?

It varies. Translation apps help, and the Korea Travel Helpline 1330 can interpret. At Dongsi Pharmacy we serve customers in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.

Sources

This page is general information, not medical advice. Rules and opening hours can change, so check the sources above for the latest information. Last updated Sep 25, 2026