Hospitals in Seoul for English speakers

Practical Info

Where to go

For emergencies, 119 gets an ambulance. For non-emergencies, the international clinics at Severance and Samsung operate on weekday business hours. Evenings and weekends, the ER is your option. Seoul's ERs can be very busy, especially at the big hospitals.

Seoul has several large hospitals. Severance Hospital (Yonsei University), Samsung Medical Center, and Asan Medical Center all have international clinics. For travelers, the international clinics at these hospitals are the way to go. Severance has a dedicated International Health Care Center that handles everything from registration to billing in English. The Seoul Global Center also maintains a medical tourism hotline that can help you find English-speaking care.

Cost

A consultation at an international clinic is affordable by Western standards. ER visits cost a few times more depending on what treatment you need. Korean healthcare is heavily subsidized for residents, and while foreigners pay more, it's still very reasonable. Most international clinics accept credit cards and can help process travel insurance claims.

Practical tips

Severance Hospital in Sinchon is the most convenient for travelers staying in the Hongdae, Myeongdong, or Itaewon areas. It's right next to Sinchon subway station. Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam is further out. For non-emergencies, the International Clinic at Yonsei is efficient and you can usually get seen the same day.

Language

The international departments at major hospitals have fluent English-speaking staff. Outside those departments, English is hit-or-miss. In an emergency, call 119: it has interpreters. For help in English that is not an emergency, call the 1330 Korea travel hotline. Younger doctors generally speak better English than older staff.

With kids

Seoul National University Children's Hospital in Jongno is a children's hospital. Severance Hospital in Sinchon also has a pediatric ER. For minor issues, neighborhood pediatric clinics are on almost every block and most are open until 8 or 9pm.