Top 5 Things To Know When You Get Sick In Korea

Getting sick successful a overseas state tin beryllium stressful, particularly erstwhile location are connection barriers, unfamiliar aesculapian systems, and uncertainty astir costs. This guideline will locomotion you done everything astir nan medical attraction successful Korea and what steps to return erstwhile you get sick successful Korea. We’ll besides see basal Korean aesculapian vocabulary to thief you pass much efficaciously erstwhile you get sick successful Korea.

Here are 5 things to statement erstwhile you get sick successful Korea

1. The quality betwixt clinics and hospitals

When you get sick successful Korea, your first measurement is deciding wherever to go. There are different types of aesculapian facilities, and knowing nan favoritism tin thief prevention you clip and money.

Most mild symptoms for illustration colds, headaches, mild tummy pain, aliases rashes tin beryllium treated astatine local clinics, known arsenic uiwon (의원). Clinics are usually nan astir convenient and affordable action for mundane illnesses. They do not require an appointment, truthful if you’re unsure wherever to commencement erstwhile you get sick successful Korea, this is usually your champion bet.

For much severe symptoms aliases if you require specialized treatment, you mightiness request to spell to a hospital. Korea categorizes its aesculapian accommodation into a three-tier system.

Third-tier clinics (also called superior attraction centers aliases organization clinics) are your mundane clinics. Second-tier hospitals are wide hospitals that supply much broad services and mightiness person respective specialists available.

First-tier hospitals, besides known arsenic general hospitals, are usually ample assemblage aliases location hospitals pinch precocious equipment, aggregate departments, and inpatient services. If you request room aliases master attraction erstwhile you get sick successful Korea, you would apt beryllium referred to a first-tier hospital.

2. Cost of doctor’s assignment and medication

If you get sick successful Korea and sojourn a clinic, nan consultation interest is comparatively affordable, particularly if you’re enrolled successful Korea’s National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).

On average, a sojourn to a section session costs astir KRW 10,000 to KRW 15,000 pinch insurance. Without insurance, nan costs could emergence to astir KRW 30,000 to KRW 50,000.

However, nan consultation interest is conscionable portion of nan cost. If nan expert prescribes medication, you will request to spell to a adjacent drugstore (yakguk, 약국) to acquisition it. The cost of medicine medicine pinch security is typically KRW 3,000 to KRW 7,000. Without insurance, you mightiness salary astir KRW 10,000 to KRW 20,000, depending connected nan prescription.

Find retired how to get medications successful Korea and what you tin bargain astatine a drugstore successful Korea too!

3. NHIS vs Student wellness insurance

There are 2 main ways students tin beryllium insured successful Korea: done nan National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) aliases backstage student wellness insurance, usually arranged by nan school. View our article connected how nan Korean wellness security works for you.

If you are enrolled successful NHIS and you get sick successful Korea, your aesculapian costs are heavily subsidized, and you will only request to salary 20% to 30% of astir outpatient curen and medicine costs astatine nan clip of your visit. NHIS is mandatory for students who enactment longer than six months successful Korea.

If you are covered by school insurance, things activity a small differently. You will usually pay nan afloat amount astatine nan session aliases infirmary first and past taxable your receipts to nan security institution designated by your schoolhouse for reimbursement. This is why you should ever support your receipt!

It is besides important to explain pinch your school’s world agency astir really this process works, including which documents to taxable and really agelong it takes to person a refund. This accusation is peculiarly useful erstwhile you get sick successful Korea and request to retrieve costs quickly.

4. Finding English-speaking clinics and really to make a reservation

For foreigners who don’t speak fluent Korean, visiting a expert tin beryllium intimidating. Thankfully, location are galore clinics and hospitals successful Korea that cater to English speakers, particularly successful cities for illustration Seoul, Busan, and Daegu. If you get sick successful Korea and are worried astir communication, these clinics are a awesome option.

Some of nan much well-known hospitals pinch world clinics see Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Samsung Medical Center. These institutions often person dedicated departments for foreigners pinch multilingual staff.

To make a preservation astatine an English-speaking clinic, you tin either call directly aliases usage nan hospital’s online booking service. Most world clinics person an English type of their website, and immoderate moreover let bookings done email.

You whitethorn beryllium asked for your Korean residence paper number and security details, truthful support those connected manus erstwhile making a reservation. It’s ever champion to make a preservation for world clinics, arsenic they thin to beryllium successful precocious demand. This is particularly existent if you get sick successful Korea during highest seasons for illustration winter.

Additionally, nan Seoul Global Center (SGC), operated by nan Seoul Metropolitan Government, offers a 24-hour Medical Referral Service (MRS) specifically for foreign residents successful Korea. Find retired really to interaction them here.

5. A useful vocabulary database of aesculapian departments successful Korean

Being acquainted pinch these department names helps erstwhile you’re trying to explicate your symptoms aliases erstwhile you get sick successful Korea and request to beryllium directed to nan correct department. Below are immoderate commonly utilized departments you whitethorn brushwood and what they treat.

• naegwa (내과): soul medicine; wide wellness checkups, colds, fevers, tummy issues.
• oegwa (외과): surgery; curen involving surgical operations.
• pibugwa (피부과): dermatology; skin-related issues for illustration acne, rashes, aliases eczema.
• ibiinhugwa (이비인후과): ENT, besides known arsenic ear, nose, throat; treats sinus infections, earaches, and sore throats.
• angwa (안과): ophthalmology; eye-related concerns, prescriptions for glasses aliases curen for oculus infections.
• jeonghyeongoegwa (정형외과): orthopedics; bony and associated issues, sprains, aliases beingness injuries.
• chigwa (치과): dentistry; toothaches, cleaning, and dental surgery.
• sanbuingwa (산부인과): obstetrics/gynecology; women’s health, pregnancy, and menstruation-related treatment.

Tips for you!

• Bring your Korean residence card and security paper to each visit.
• Download translation apps aliases hole cardinal phrases successful Korean successful lawsuit unit don’t speak English.
• Look for hospitals that person an “International Clinic” motion aliases cheque their website earlier visiting.
• Always inquire for your receipt and curen record—these are needed for reimbursement if you’re nether student insurance.

You’ll find that erstwhile you’re acquainted pinch really things work, getting aesculapian thief successful Korea is manageable and businesslike if you get sick successful Korea!

For much information, travel the Go! Go! Hanguk blog, and don’t hesitate to contact us about surviving and studying successful Korea.