Visiting Korea is an exciting experience full of delicious food, beautiful sights, and unique culture. But what happens if you catch a cold, have a headache, or experience an upset stomach during your trip? Don’t worry! Korean pharmacies are widely available and offer a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to help you feel better quickly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to buy medicine at a Korean pharmacy, common medications you can find, helpful Korean phrases, and tips to make your visit smooth and stress-free.
1. Introduction to Pharmacies in Korea
Pharmacies in Korea are called 약국 (yak-guk), and they are easy to spot with their green cross sign or the word 약 (yak), meaning “medicine,” displayed at the entrance. Most neighborhoods have several pharmacies, and you’ll find even more in busy areas like train stations or shopping districts.
Pharmacies usually operate during regular business hours (9 AM – 6 PM), with some closing on Sundays. However, in larger cities, you can find 24-hour pharmacies or night-duty pharmacies (당번약국, dang-beon yak-guk) that stay open late or overnight.
In Korea, many medicines that might be sold freely in other countries (like cold medicine or painkillers) are kept behind the counter. This means you’ll need to speak with the pharmacist to describe your symptoms and get the right medicine. But don’t worry! Even if you don’t speak Korean fluently, pharmacists are generally helpful and patient.
2. Common Types of Over-the-Counter Medicines
Korean pharmacies stock a wide range of OTC medicines, and here are some of the most common types you might need during your visit:
① Cold Medicine (감기약, gam-gi-yak)
If you feel symptoms like a sore throat, cough, runny nose, or mild fever, you can ask for cold medicine. Popular brands include Pan Cold, Contact Gold, or Penzal Cold. These usually come in packets of pills you take after meals.
② Pain Relief or Killer (진통제, jin-tong-je)
For headaches, muscle pain, or menstrual cramps, you can request pain relievers. Tylenol (타이레놀) is commonly available in Korea, as well as Ezn6 and Penzal-Q.
③ Digestive Medicine (소화제, so-hwa-je)
If you’ve enjoyed too much Korean BBQ or spicy food, digestive aids can help. Medicines like Gaster, Daewon Stomach Pills (대원 소화제), and Samyang Eundan help relieve indigestion, heartburn, and bloating.
3. Useful Korean Phrases and Words for the Pharmacy
Here are some helpful words and phrases to make your pharmacy visit easier:
| English | Korean (Romanization) | Korean (Hangul) |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy | Yak-guk | 약국 |
| Medicine | Yak | 약 |
| Cold medicine | Gam-gi-yak | 감기약 |
| Pain reliever | Jin-tong-je | 진통제 |
| Digestive medicine | So-hwa-je | 소화제 |
| I have a cold. | Gam-gi-ga iss-eo-yo. | 감기가 있어요. |
| I have a headache. | Meo-ri-ga ap-a-yo. | 머리가 아파요. |
| My stomach hurts. | Bae-ga ap-a-yo. | 배가 아파요. |
| How do I take this? | Eo-tteo-ke meok-eo-yo? | 어떻게 먹어요? |
| How many times a day? | Haru-e myeot beon meok-eo-yo? | 하루에 몇 번 먹어요? |
Tip: You can also write your symptoms on your phone and show them to the pharmacist if you’re shy or unsure about pronunciation!
4. Step-by-Step Guide to Explain Your Symptoms
Here’s a simple step-by-step process to make your visit smooth:
Step 1: Enter the Pharmacy
Walk in and greet the pharmacist with a simple “Annyeonghaseyo” (안녕하세요), which means “Hello.”
Step 2: State Your Problem
Use simple sentences or phrases, such as:
- “Gam-gi-ga iss-eo-yo” (I have a cold).
- “Meo-ri-ga ap-a-yo” (I have a headache).
- “Bae-ga ap-a-yo” (My stomach hurts).
Step 3: Describe Your Symptoms (Optional)
If you can, add more details:
- Gidul-i na-yo (기침이 나요) – I have a cough.
- Yeol-i iss-eo-yo (열이 있어요) – I have a fever.
- Mal-ha-gi him-deu-reo-yo (말하기 힘들어요) – It’s hard to talk.
Step 4: Listen to the Pharmacist
The pharmacist may ask you follow-up questions like:
- Eol-ma-na ap-a-yo? (얼마나 아파요?) – How bad is the pain?
- Eoneu jeom-eun ap-a-yo? (어느 점은 아파요?) – Where exactly does it hurt?
Step 5: Receive the Medicine
The pharmacist will give you the medicine and explain how to take it. If you don’t understand, you can ask:
- Eo-tteo-ke meok-eo-yo? (어떻게 먹어요?) – How do I take this?
- Haru-e myeot beon meok-eo-yo? (하루에 몇 번 먹어요?) – How many times a day?
Step 6: Thank the Pharmacist
A simple “Gamsahamnida” (감사합니다) means “Thank you.”
5. Helpful Tips for First-Time Visitors
✔️ Carry cash or a credit card. Most pharmacies accept cards, but small ones may prefer cash.
✔️ Bring a translation app. Apps like Papago or Google Translate are helpful for translating symptoms.
✔️ Check for 24-hour pharmacies. Search “24시 약국” (24-si yak-guk) on maps if you need medicine late at night.
✔️ Don’t expect exact foreign brands. Some global brands like Tylenol are available, but many medicines are local Korean brands with similar ingredients.
✔️ Be cautious with allergies. If you have known allergies to medications, write them down in Korean or have them translated ahead of time.
✔️ Pharmacists can’t diagnose serious issues. If you feel very unwell, visit a clinic or hospital instead of just relying on OTC medicine.
Conclusion
Buying medicine at a Korean pharmacy might seem intimidating at first, but with these simple tips, helpful phrases, and a basic understanding of how things work, you’ll feel more confident managing minor health issues during your trip. Korean pharmacists are friendly and experienced, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.
Stay healthy, enjoy your travels, and if you ever find yourself under the weather in Korea, now you know exactly what to do!
Safe travels! Annyeong!!