Clinic or hospital? Where should I go for which problem?

In an emergency, call 119. Otherwise, start at a neighborhood clinic (의원) in the right department, and go to a hospital or general hospital when you need tests or specialized care. What to do 1. Pick the department with the Seoul city guide's symptom table (for example, cold or fever → internal medicine 내과; skin rash → dermatology 피부과; children → pediatrics 소아청소년과). 2. Show your ID at the front desk, and take any prescription to a pharmacy after the visit. 3. If the doctor says you need a bigger hospital, ask for a referral letter (진료의뢰서). Tertiary hospitals (상급종합병원, usually big university hospitals) apply health insurance only with one, except in emergencies and a few other cases. 4. On holidays, find open clinics and pharmacies on E-Gen (e-gen.or.kr, Korean) or call 129, 119 or 120. Good to know • Bigger hospitals charge you a larger share, and some mild conditions cost more there; HIRA lists the current rates. • Workplace subscriber or dependent whose benefits were suspended during a long stay abroad? Report your re-entry to NHIS to use insurance from the day you arrive. See our Q&A on leaving Korea and health insurance. Official sources • Seoul Foreigner Portal – Using Medical Services: https://global.seoul.go.kr/hmpg/finf/welf/emer/contPageDetail.do?conts_no=4B5A1B2AF5794457AAB3E8721C95C9C9&lang=en • HIRA – Copayment rates (Korean): https://www.hira.or.kr/dummy.do?pgmid=HIRAA030056020110 This is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, call 119. Checked by the Verihood team on October 3, 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you act.