Seoul

When you're traveling with little ones, knowing where to find hospital before you need it makes a big difference. Here's Seoul.

Practical Info

Seoul has some of the best hospitals in Asia. Severance Hospital (Yonsei University), Samsung Medical Center, and Asan Medical Center are all world-class facilities. 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 runs 50,000 to 100,000 KRW (37 to 75 USD). ER visits cost more, typically 100,000 to 300,000 KRW depending on what treatment you need. Korean healthcare is heavily subsidized for residents, and while foreigners pay more, it's still very reasonable by Western standards. 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 excellent but further out. For non-emergencies, the International Clinic at Yonsei is efficient and you can usually get seen the same day. The emergency number in Korea is 119. There's also a medical helpline for foreigners at 1339 that offers interpretation services.

Language

The international departments at major hospitals have fluent English-speaking staff. Outside those departments, English is hit-or-miss. The 1339 medical helpline provides free interpretation in English, Chinese, Japanese, and other languages. Younger doctors generally speak better English than older staff.

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 top hospitals.

With kids

Seoul National University Children's Hospital in Jongno is one of the top pediatric hospitals in Asia. Severance Hospital in Sinchon also has an excellent pediatric ER. For minor issues, neighborhood pediatric clinics are on almost every block and most are open until 8 or 9pm.

Hopefully this stays bookmarked and unused. But if you're in Seoul and something comes up, travel-er.app is there.

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: WHO Republic of Korea · CDC Travel Health: South Korea · Korea Tourism Organization Medical Info