Essential Guide to Buying Medications in Korea for Travelers (Open 24/7)

Imagine you’re enjoying your trip to Korea, exploring palaces, tasting street food, and shopping in vibrant districts. Suddenly, you feel unwell—maybe a headache, stomachache, or even the flu. Being sick while traveling is never fun, but don’t worry. Korea makes it surprisingly easy for visitors to find basic medicine, whether at a pharmacy or even at a convenience store like GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, or Emart24.

Essential Guide to Buying Medications in Korea for Travelers

This guide will help you understand the most common symptoms in Korean, how to communicate them to a pharmacist, and which medicines you can buy without a prescription. With a little preparation, you’ll know exactly what to do if you feel sick during your journey.

🧾 Common Symptoms in Korean

When visiting a pharmacy in Korea, it’s very useful to know how to explain your symptoms clearly. Pharmacists may not always speak fluent English, so even a few Korean words can help you get the right medicine quickly.

Here are some common symptoms with Korean translations and pronunciation:

Fever: 발열 (Bal-yeol)

Cough: 기침 (Gi-chim)
Runny nose: 콧물 (Kot-mul)
Headache: 두통 (Du-tong)
Stomachache: 복통 (Bok-tong)
Menstrual pain: 생리통 (Saeng-li-tong)
Muscle pain: 근육통 (Geun-yuk-tong)
Motion sickness: 멀미 (Meol-mi)
Allergy: 알레르기 (Al-le-reu-gi)
Vomiting: 구토 (Gu-to)
Diarrhea: 설사 (Seol-sa)

Constipation: 변비 (Byeon-bi)

Sore throat: 목 아픔 (Mok a-peum)

👉 Tip for speaking naturally: You can combine a body part with the verb “아프다 (A-peu-da)”, which means “to hurt”. This is very commonly used by Koreans when describing pain.

Headache → 머리 아프다 (Meo-ri a-peu-da)

Stomach pain → 배 아프다 (Bae a-peu-da)
Toothache → 이 아프다 (I a-peu-da)
Back pain → 허리 아프다 (Heo-ri a-peu-da)

Leg pain → 다리 아프다 (Da-ri a-peu-da)

Even if you don’t speak much Korean, this simple pattern will help you explain your condition to a pharmacist.

👉 Useful pharmacy phrases you can use:

“열이 나요.” (Yeol-i na-yo.) → I have a fever.

“기침이 심해요.” (Gi-chim-i sim-hae-yo.) → I have a bad cough.

“두통약 있어요?” (Du-tong-yak i-sseo-yo?) → Do you have medicine for headaches?

“약 추천해 주세요.” (Yak chu-cheon-hae ju-se-yo.) → Please recommend medicine.

📌 Where to Buy Medicine in Korea

Pharmacies (약국, yakkuk) are the main places to buy medicine. They are easy to recognize by the big 약 (yak) sign and are usually located near hospitals, shopping areas, and subway stations. Pharmacists can recommend medicine based on your symptoms.

Over-the-counter medicine in a Convenient Store in South Korea

However, many pharmacies close in the evening or on weekends. That’s why convenience stores like GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 are a lifesaver. Open 24/7, they sell a limited but essential range of over-the-counter medicines—perfect if you suddenly get sick at night or while traveling.

Buying Medicine in Convenience Stores vs. Pharmacies

Pharmacies: Best for professional advice and a wider range of medicine.
Convenience Stores: Best for late-night emergencies or quick relief, with essentials like fever reducers, digestive aids, and pain patches.

Even if you don’t speak Korean, showing the medicine name or describing your symptoms is usually enough to get what you need.

💊 Basic Medicines Available in Korean Convenience Stores

In South Korea, convenience stores (편의점) like GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 are everywhere—open 24/7 and stocked with more than just snacks. These can help with everyday problems such as headaches, colds, stomach issues, and muscle pain—especially when pharmacies are closed.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common medicines you can easily find at convenience stores in Korea:

I. Pain Relievers & Fever Reducers

These are the most commonly purchased items, great for headaches, body aches, or mild fevers.

1. Tylenol (타이레놀) – Price: ~ 3600 KRW

Tylenol (타이레놀)

The go-to painkiller in Korea. Helps with headaches, toothaches, muscle pain, and menstrual cramps. Can be taken on an empty stomach, which makes it convenient.

Usage: Tylenol is for adults and children 12 years of age and older, can take 1-2 Tylenol tablets at a time, 3-4 times a day, and each time is 4-6 hours apart. Be careful not to take more than 8 tablets a day.

2. Children’s Tylenol Suspension (어린이 타이레놀 현탁액) – Price: ~ 7400 KRW

Children’s Tylenol Suspension

A cherry-flavored syrup designed for over-4-months-old children’s fever and pain relief.

Usage: Dosage depends on the child's body weight (10~15mg/kg) and note that it should not be used more than 5 times (75ml/kg) a day.

3. Children’s Brufen Syrup (어린이 부루펜시럽) – Price: ~8000 KRW

Children’s Brufen Syrup

Commonly used for reducing fever in children. Should be taken after meals to avoid stomach irritation.

Usage: Take 3-4 times a day, 30-40mg/1kg each time according to body weight.

👉 Tip: For adults, Tylenol is usually enough. For children, always check the dosage instructions carefully.

II. Digestive Medicines

Korean meals are often heavy with meat, spicy stews, and fried foods—so it’s no surprise that digestive aids are widely sold in convenience stores.

1. BEA & Doctor BEA (베아제 & 닥터 베아제) – Price: ~2200 – 2400 KRW

Popular enzyme-based medicine for indigestion, bloating, and stomach discomfort. Both the medicines have the same effects, but Doctor BEA is more effective than BEA.

Usage: Adults can take 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day after meals.

2. Hwaeseutal Gold & Plus (훼스탈 골드 & 플러스) – Price: ~2500 - 2700 KRW

Hwaeseutal Gold & Plus (훼스탈 골드 & 플러스)

Another widely used digestive aid.

Gold: Best for meat-heavy meals (think Korean BBQ).
Plus: General aid for indigestion after overeating or drinking alcohol.

Usage: Adults can take 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day after meals.

👉 Tip: These are lifesavers after a late-night Korean BBQ or fried chicken session.

III. Cold & Flu Medicines

Convenience stores stock a few popular cold remedies to ease runny nose, cough, fever, and sore throat.

1. Pan Cold A (판콜에이 내복액) – Price: ~3000 KRW

Pan Cold A (판콜에이 내복액)

A liquid cold medicine effective against runny nose, sore throat, cough, and mild fever.

Usage: Adults take 30ml each time, 3 times a day, 30 minutes after meals.

2. Panpyrin-T (판피린티정) – Price: ~2000 KRW

Panpyrin-T (판피린티정)

A tablet-type cold medicine that works similarly to Pan Cold A. Often taken for general cold and flu symptoms.

Usage: Adults take 1 tablet each time, 3 times a day, 30 minutes after meals.

👉 Tip: These medicines may cause drowsiness, so avoid taking them if you need to stay alert (e.g., driving).

4. Pain Relief Patches (파스, Pas)

Koreans love using pain relief patches for muscle pain, backaches, or joint discomfort. They are easy to use and widely available in convenience stores.

Jeil Cool Pap (제일쿨파프) – Price: ~3500 KRW

Jeil Cool Pap (제일쿨파프)

Sinsin Pas Rx (신신파스RX) – Price: ~3500 KRW

Sinsin Pas Rx (신신파스RX)

Adhesive patches that provide cooling or warming relief depending on the type.

냉파스 (Naegg-pas): Cooling type, best for swelling or recent injuries.
온파스 (On-pas): Warming type, good for chronic pain or stiff muscles.

👉 Tip: These are great for muscle fatigue after hiking, long walks, or sitting too long at work.

✈️ Final Tips for Travelers

Getting sick abroad can be stressful, but in Korea, you’re never far from a solution. With pharmacies in almost every neighborhood and convenience stores open 24/7, it’s easy to find basic medicine. Learn a few simple Korean phrases, keep symptom words on your phone, and you’ll be prepared for any small health issue during your trip.

That way, a headache in Seoul, an upset stomach in Busan, or sore muscles in Jeju won’t stop you from enjoying your Korean adventure.

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