How to survive at the pharmacy
Prescription (cheobangjeon) medicine costs 30% out of pocket. Without a Prescription (cheobangjeon), you can also buy basic medicine at a convenience store.
Prescription (cheobangjeon) medicine has a 30% copay. You can buy OTC medicine at a pharmacy without a Prescription (cheobangjeon). From 2024, some medicines are also sold at convenience stores.
Prescription (cheobangjeon) medicine: 30% copay
When you get treatment at a hospital, they give you a Prescription (cheobangjeon) (prescription). Take this and go to any pharmacy. It does not have to be the pharmacy next to the hospital.
Prescription (cheobangjeon) medicine is 30% copay. The remaining 70% is paid by health insurance.
Please take your Prescription (cheobangjeon) to the pharmacy within 3 days from the issue date. If you are late, it may become invalid.
For example, if the medicine costs 10,000 KRW, I pay 3,000 KRW.
Get a Prescription (cheobangjeon) at the hospital
Go to any pharmacy and submit your Prescription (cheobangjeon).
Wait 5~15 minutes
Get medicine and pay
A Prescription (cheobangjeon) usually must be taken to the pharmacy within 3 days from the issue date. If you wait longer, it may become invalid.
At the pharmacy, they may ask you to show your Health Insurance Card or ARC. Please carry it with you all the time.
Over-the-counter medicine: medicine you can buy without a Prescription (cheobangjeon)
You do not need to go to the hospital every time for cold medicine or painkillers. There are medicines you can buy at a pharmacy without a Prescription (cheobangjeon) (over-the-counter medicine, OTC).
Medicines you can buy directly at the pharmacy:
From 2024, you can also buy some medicines at convenience stores!
Medicines you can buy at convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, etc.):
Fever reducer and pain reliever:
Digestive medicine:
Cold medicine:
Other:
This is useful when pharmacies are closed late at night. It is behind the convenience store counter, so ask the staff, "Do you have medicine?"
Over-the-counter medicines are not covered by health insurance. You pay the full cost yourself. But most are about 5,000~15,000 KRW, so the burden is not big.
Pharmacy tips
Will English work with the pharmacist? To be honest... for most, it is difficult. But there is a way.
Tips for communicating in English:
Watch out for non-covered injections under NHI (bigeupyeo)!
Sometimes hospitals recommend vitamin injections or nutrition injections. These are non-covered services under NHI (bigeupyeo), so the price can be different at each hospital by up to 25 times. Please make sure to ask the price first.
Pharmacy operating hours:
What if the medicine instructions are only in Korean? Take a photo of labels like "3 times a day, 30 minutes after meals" written on the medicine bag and use a translator. Or ask the pharmacist, "Please write it in English".
If you urgently need medicine at night, try going to a convenience store. From 2024, you can buy basic painkillers and digestive medicine.
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Get a Prescription (cheobangjeon) at the hospital
After the consultation, get a Prescription (cheobangjeon).
Filled at any pharmacy
It doesn’t have to be a pharmacy next to the hospital. You just need to wait 5~15 minutes. 30% copayment.
Check how to take it
Use Papago photo translation to translate the Korean dosage instructions on the medicine bag.
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Pay about 30% for the Prescription (cheobangjeon)
The remaining 70% is covered by health insurance. If the medicine costs 10,000 won, I pay 3,000 won.
You can also buy medicine at convenience stores.
From 2024, you can buy Tylenol, digestive medicine, cold medicine, and more at places like GS25 and CU.
Find medicine by ingredient name
If you say 'ibuprofen', the pharmacist will find a Korean-made product with the same ingredient for you.
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Prescription (cheobangjeon) within 3 days
Please take the Prescription (cheobangjeon) to the pharmacy within 3 days from the issue date. If you are late, it may become invalid.
Antibiotics require a prescription
You cannot buy antibiotics without a Prescription (cheobangjeon). You must have a doctor’s prescription.
Be sure to mention your allergies.
If you have allergies, be sure to tell the pharmacist. 'allergy isseoyo' + ingredient name.
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If you have the original Prescription (cheobangjeon), you can go to any pharmacy. If you already got the medicine prepared, you cannot get it again with the same prescription.
No. Antibiotics always require a doctor's prescription.
If you know the ingredient name (generic name), the pharmacist can find a Korean product with the same ingredient for you. The brand name may be different.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.