Busan

We were in Busan when we realized we needed hospital. Here's what we learned.

The Basics

Busan has solid hospitals but fewer international-oriented options than Seoul. Pusan National University Hospital and Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital are the main large facilities. The Busan Medical Tourism Center can help connect you with English-speaking providers. If you're in the Haeundae beach area, Haeundae Paik Hospital is the closest major hospital.

Costs are similar to Seoul, maybe slightly lower. A clinic visit runs 40,000 to 80,000 KRW (30 to 60 USD). ER visits start around 80,000 KRW. As in Seoul, the system is affordable by Western standards but you do need to pay out of pocket and claim on insurance later.

If you're staying near Haeundae or Gwangalli beaches, Haeundae Paik Hospital is your closest option. For the Nampo-dong and Jagalchi market area, Pusan National University Hospital is more accessible. Both are reachable by subway. For emergencies, 119 works the same as in Seoul.

English is more limited in Busan than in Seoul. The 1339 medical helpline with phone interpretation is especially important here. Some doctors at the university hospitals speak English, but don't count on it at smaller clinics. The Busan Medical Tourism Center (051-714-3800) can help arrange English-speaking appointments.

Pusan National University Hospital has a pediatric emergency department. For less urgent issues, neighborhood pediatric clinics are everywhere and most have English signage. Korean hospitals are very efficient with children and wait times are usually short.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Information may be outdated or inaccurate. Always call ahead to confirm. See our full disclaimer.

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Sources: CDC Travel Health: South Korea · WHO Republic of Korea