Emergency Medical Guide for Foreigners in Busan 

Getting sick or injured while traveling in Korea can be overwhelming. While Busan has a world-class medical system, the different types of hospitals can be confusing for foreigners. This guide provides everything you need to know, from choosing the right hospital to practical tips for using them in real-life situations.

1. Comparison Between Local Clinics and General Hospitals

Medical institutions in Korea are divided into stages based on their size and role. Understanding this difference is the first step to saving time and money.

Local Clinics (General Term: "Ui-won") These are small hospitals commonly found on the 2nd or 3rd floors of buildings near subway stations or shopping districts. This includes Internal Medicine, ENT, Dermatology, and Orthopedics.

• Recommended for: Colds, flu, mild stomachaches, minor cuts, skin rashes, styes, and other non-life-threatening symptoms.

• Pros: You can walk in without an appointment and usually finish within 10 to 30 minutes. Even for foreigners (without Korean health insurance), the cost is very affordable, typically ranging from 30,000 KRW to 60,000 KRW ($25 to $50). Since they specialize in specific areas, prescriptions are fast and accurate.

• Cons: Many are closed at night or on Sundays, and they often lack precise equipment like MRI or CT scanners.

General & University Hospitals (General Term: "Byeong-won") These are massive medical institutions with hundreds of beds, such as Pusan National University Hospital or Haeundae Paik Hospital.

• Recommended for: Major trauma, broken bones, severe pain of unknown cause, situations requiring surgery, or nighttime and weekend emergencies.

• Pros: They have specialized "International Healthcare Centers" providing English interpretation services, and all types of precise tests are available in one place.

• Cons: The basic consultation fee alone starts at over 100,000 KRW, and if you visit without an appointment, a wait of 2 to 3 hours is typical.

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2. For Colds and Sore Throats, Go to an "ENT Clinic"

This is one of the best tips that foreigners often don't know. If you have a cold, visiting an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinic will provide much faster treatment than a general internal medicine clinic.

• Korean Name: 이비인후과

• English Name: ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat)

• Romanized Pronunciation: I-bi-in-hu-gwa

• Why visit? Korean ENT clinics are equipped with specialized tools to directly disinfect and treat your throat and nose. The treatment effect is much more immediate than just taking medicine.

• How to find: Look for the word "이비인후과" on street signs, or copy and search for this term in Naver Map or Kakao Map.

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3. Top 3 University Hospitals for Foreigners in Busan

In serious situations, you should go to hospitals with an International Healthcare Center that has dedicated coordinators.

① Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital (Haeundae Area)

• Features: Located in the center of Haeundae where most tourists stay, providing excellent accessibility. It has the most experience with foreign patients and a very modern system.

• Services: Dedicated nurses and translators are available at the International Healthcare Center to accompany you from registration to payment. They are very proficient in handling paperwork for travel insurance claims.

• Location: Near Jangsan Station (Subway Line 2).

② Pusan National University Hospital (West Busan / Toseong-dong)

• Features: The largest "Superior General Hospital" in Busan. It is the center of medical care in Busan, where you should go for life-threatening conditions like cancer, heart disease, or major trauma.

• Services: Provides interpretation services in multiple languages including English, Russian, and Chinese.

• Location: Near Toseong Station (Subway Line 1).

③ Dong-A University Hospital (West Busan / Daesin-dong)

• Features: A specialized hospital for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. You can receive professional care if you experience sudden chest pain or symptoms of paralysis.

• Services: Operates a dedicated foreigner counter to reduce waiting times.

• Location: Near Daesin-dong, Seo-gu.

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4. Step-by-Step Procedure for Using Hospitals

Remember this sequence so you don't feel lost in the Korean hospital system.

1. Registration: Present your Passport at the lobby or International Center counter. Registration is impossible without a valid ID.

2. Triage (for Emergency Rooms): A nurse will assess your condition first to determine the severity. Since treatment is based on urgency rather than arrival time, minor symptoms may result in long waits.

3. Consultation and Tests: Consult with the doctor. If communication is difficult, use the translation features of the Papago app or the 1339 medical interpretation hotline.

4. Payment and Document Issuance: After the consultation, pay at the counter. Crucial: You must request a Medical Report and a Detailed Receipt in English. These are essential for insurance claims.

5. Moving to a Pharmacy: Korean hospitals do not dispense medicine internally. You must take your prescription to a pharmacy (marked as 약) located outside the hospital.

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5. Practical Medical Tips for International Travelers

• 1339 Hotline: Call 1339 before going to a hospital. They provide 24/7 real-time information in English on which nearby hospitals currently have English-speaking doctors available.

• Convenience Store Medicine: If you have a mild fever or indigestion at 11 PM, visit a 24-hour convenience store (CU, GS25) instead of an expensive emergency room. You can buy Tylenol, digestive aids, and pain relief patches at a low cost.

• Emergency Room (ER) Fee Warning: In Korean ERs, a "Management Fee" (approx. 60,000 to 100,000 KRW) is charged before treatment begins. For simple colds, it is more economical to visit a local clinic the next morning.

• How to Take Medicine: In Korea, it is usually advised to "Take medicine 30 minutes after a meal." It is best to follow this rule for effective treatment.

• Moonlight Children's Hospital: If your child gets sick at night, search for "Moonlight Children's Hospital" (Dal-bit-eo-rin-i Byeong-won). They are open until 11 PM and are much cheaper than the emergency room.