How to use Korean pharmacies and over-the-counter medicines for foreigners 2026: Cold medicine, allergies, prescriptions

If you experience cold, indigestion, headache, or allergy symptoms while traveling in Korea, you will visit a pharmacy. However, there is a distinction between medicines that require a prescription and medicines that can be purchased immediately, and the names of the medicines are in Korean, so it may seem difficult to foreigners. This article summarizes how to safely select medications for those who use Korean pharmacies for the first time.

There are medications that require a prescription

Antibiotics, strong painkillers, and some skin medications or prescription medications can only be obtained with a prescription after treatment at the hospital. Just because there are medications that cannot be purchased directly from a pharmacy does not mean they are unfriendly. If symptoms are severe or persist for a long time, it is safer to seek medical attention first.

Be brief and specific about your symptoms

List your main symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and allergies. Since when have you been sick, whether you are pregnant, what medications you are taking, and if you have any allergies are also important. Consulting with a pharmacist will be much faster if you prepare sentences in a translation app.

Convenience store prescription medications are limited.

Some convenience stores sell safety medications such as antipyretic analgesics, cold medicines, and digestive medicines, but the variety is limited. It is useful in urgent cases late at night, but children, the elderly, and people with existing diseases are advised to give priority to pharmacies or hospitals.

Be sure to check the dosage instructions

You need to check how many times a day, before or after a meal, whether it can make you drowsy, and whether it can be taken with alcohol. Korean medicine envelopes have dosage instructions written on them, but Korean can be difficult, so take a picture and translate it. When taking multiple medications at the same time, you must be careful of overlapping ingredients.

For emergencies call 119 before the pharmacy

Difficulty breathing, severe allergic reactions, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or severe bleeding should not be treated at a pharmacy but rather call 119. If you have travel insurance, save the insurance company contact information as well. It may be helpful to bring your passport and information about any medications you are taking when visiting the hospital.

Pre-visit checklist

• Symptom start date
• medications you are taking
• allergy
• Do you need a prescription?
• Number of doses
• Emergency number 119

Detailed conditions and operating hours may vary depending on region, store, institution, and season. For important schedules or costly choices, it is best to check the official website, consultation center, and on-site information before departure.